Dannevirke: Visiting guru has ideas to liven town

Alex Walker (left) of the Chook House in Waipukurau, Dannevirke dairy farmer and businessman Phillip Hartridge, and Annette Kendall, a researcher/practitioner for regional economic development. Photo / Christine McKay

Looking for inspiration for your business, life and our community?

Dannevirke's Annette Kendall and Waipukurau's Alex Walker have the answer: spend time with economic business guru Dr Ernesto Sirolli.

As a reaction against the recent "zombie town" television programme, Annette has used her connections to bring Dr Sirolli to Dannevirke and Central Hawke's Bay in November.

"Here is a guy who believes in small towns globally," Annette said. "He's one of the top speakers in the world and is really inspiring, especially his messages on how to rejuvenate rural communities and how we can do it as a community. For him to come to Dannevirke and Waipukurau is huge."

Italian Sirolli received a Laurea di Dottore in political science from Rome University in 1976 and a Ph.D. from Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia, in 2004. He has worked in Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom in the field of economic development.

Economic business guru Dr Ernesto Sirolli is coming to Dannevirke and Central Hawke’s Bay on November 11.

In 1985, in Esperance, a small rural community in Western Australia, he pioneered an economic development approach based on harnessing the passion, determination, intelligence, and resourcefulness of the local people.

The Sirolli Institute has worked in 300 communities around the world helping to start 40,000 businesses, which are person-centered approaches to local economic development.

"Ernesto's approach, rather than attracting big business to a town, is to look at who is here already and remove the barriers," Ms Kendall said. "His message is to make the most of your community. The millennial generation, those aged 18 to 25 years, don't want to work 50 to 70 hours and will sacrifice the big salaries for lifestyle and being happy.

"I saw Ernesto speaking to business students at the University of Queensland last year and they were so amped. He resonates with people and for the millennial generation, being in business, feeling good and doing good, that's what they want.

"Traditionally the thinking has been that the way for Dannevirke to survive and grow is to attract big companies to town. But when times get tough margins are squeezed and talented people leave. The secret isn't attracting companies to town. We've a wealth of businesses who have their heart and soul in Dannevirke and who are not going to leave when times are tough."

Wide appeal

She said Sirolli's approach appealed to anyone in the community who was passionate about seeing the district revived and survive and its young people making the most of opportunities.

"Kids dropping out of high school do have dreams and ideas, but face the barriers of self-doubt," she said. "We're very fortunate in small-town New Zealand. We have a lot of bright, very talented people who don't know it, so we have to pull them out and develop opportunities."

Phillip Hartridge, a Dannevirke dairy farmer and businessman, said having Sirolli in Dannevirke was a wonderful opportunity to access a world-renowned leader.

"We need to find people passionate in driving our community forward and galvanise them all," he said.

"Let's hope this time with Sirolli in our community is an opportunity for people to take advantage.We've got to change the mindset of small communities like ours."

Tararua District Council member Jim Crispin said it was important to identify young people who could be helped to develop.

And Ms Kendall said once conversations started then the young people could drive the process themselves.

"But I'm here as source of information on what to do next," she said. "We get young people inspired and then what?

"Many councils are now looking at outsourcing economic development to an independent person who is able to provide free and confidential advice for anyone wanting to start a business or grow an existing business. They recognise this function is more effective when it stands outside of council and that any economic development plan has to address the needs of the poorest people in a community if it is to have any impact at all.

"In Dannevirke we are our own problem, but we're also the solution. Unfortunately, we're very bad at saying, 'Why do it'? We have to change our attitude because all-too-often when things are tough, there's a negative vibe and we blame the Government.

"Ernesto's approach is all abut regional and rural New Zealand. He appreciates it really is the backbone of our country. We need to be making the most of what we've lost through a grassroots movement built by our community.

"He makes things simple and that's genius in itself. "

Southern councillor Tracey Collis said young people underestimated networking.

"Being in business I know we have to have a can-do attitude and I'm enthusiastic at the thought of what Ernesto can offer our community," she said.

Kelly Annand, a Central Hawke's Bay District Council member, told the Dannevirke News it was important to find out what people were passionate about. "Too often we box people up, but in Waipawa a group of creative people working at home opened up Penny Lane," she said. "None of them could afford to open their own shops but they can afford space in Penny Lane and they have transformed Waipawa into a tourism destination.

"But having independent hubs in our communities is really important as councils can kill it."

Ms Kendall agreed that people were inspired by others.

"In New Zealand we are fixated with export and big, but we need to be putting resources into little businesses," she said. "In small communities we have to be more accepting of people and their ideas. At the moment it's rural people killing rural towns, but if you get the yes people out with a strong voice, they become the it crowd."

Alex Walker, who set up the Chook House in Waipukurau less than a year ago, said she had found a lot of independent and really passionate people who she believed could be the future leaders of her community.

"I'm excited about Ernesto's visit," she said.

Your chance to talk with Dr Ernesto Sirolli on November 11
• A business lunch in the Central Hawke's Bay aimed at business owners, with the message "the entrepreneurial myth". Cost $40.

• An exclusive after five in Dannevirke at The Hub from 5.15pm to 6.15pm, limited to 30 people $115.

• A free community meeting in Dannevirke, also at The Hub, Allardice St, from 6.30pm to 7.30pm - rejuvenating rural communities.

• Tickets available from the Chook House in Waipukurau, phone bookings welcome, 068585004 or from Annette Kendall 0275490199.Global expert has a passion for small towns around world