Papers & Presentations
The Western Murray – The Creation of a Community
Laurie Eakin, Chief Executive Officer, Murray Telecommunications Ltd, Executive Director Western Murray Development Inc.
The communities of north west Victoria and south west New South Wales are representative of many throughout rural and regional Australia – relatively isolated, serviced with levels of infrastructure ranging from extremely poor to relatively good, but with an enormous capacity to survive and contribute significantly to both their local and the national economy.
Telecommunications is but one dimension of their infrastructure needs, albeit an important one. This story is about the Western Murray Community's journey from isolation to the beginning of a new era of hope and decision making, where individuals and groups have started to answer their own questions and take control of their future.
Biography
Laurie Eakin has worked for over 25 years in policy development and program implementation in the Federal Government, in managing projects and programs in Australia's overseas aid program, in government relations and industry policy development in two major Australian industry sectors and in regional development at the project development and implementation level.