Many of you may feel I am not in a position to have an opinion on the upcoming Murray Irrigation vote, which is a fair observation, and I have deliberately stayed out of MIL issues since leaving my position as a Landholder Association chair over five years ago.
Having found myself in the middle of MIL board issues in the past, I feel conflicted about expressing my views.
However, my care and passion for the people, communities, industries and environment that make the southern Riverina footprint unique has not waned.
There is no doubt, given my time again, that I would handle certain situations differently.
The benefits of hindsight and personal growth are wonderful for appreciating that differences of opinion are essential in all aspects of life, but they are not necessarily a symptom of dysfunction.
From my experience (while involved in the water space), most of the conflict amongst ourselves has come due to personal ego.
Rather than using a team approach to solving the critical issues the company and the entire footprint face, there have been ongoing rivalries as to who can find the jigsaw piece that will save the company and its shareholders.
As a result of this, due to water policy at both local and basin levels, so many friendships and camaraderies have been lost.
By publishing this letter, I risk losing further friendships, whether they be dedicated community members, wonderful farmers, and thoughtful environmentalists, because unfortunately we are not always good at accepting someone else’s point of view.
Yet at the same time, not expressing a view is poor leadership, given my involvement and observations over the last decade.
Has our region been sacrificed? 100 per cent. Should one of the most efficient food-producing systems in the world be forced to make the biggest change? No.
However, to defend ourselves against the most aggressive Water Minister we have come across, we are going to need to adapt as a region to how we handle conflict and differences of opinion.
I firmly believe, now more than ever, we need a diverse set of skills on the MIL board, and they include the skills of independent directors.
To stand a chance we need to think outside the square and work as a team, including a fresher set of eyes.
From the outside, I can see that those who are most prepared to adapt are not only surviving but thriving, and how fortunate MIL is to have them on its board (another was voted off last year).
While I may not always agree with MIL's advocacy and communication strategy, I know that the current chair and deputy chair are excellent in their roles, and the region cannot afford to lose their leadership.
Please debate this issue respectfully, vote accordingly, and whatever the result do not hold ill-feelings or grudges against those who you may disagree with on this or any other single issue.
Yours etc,
Shelley Scoullar
Albury
28°C