Northern Mallee Leaders

15/06/2026

NOT LONG NOW

We have EOI 10 registrations for the AICD Governance Program.

We need 15 by the end of July to bring it to the Northern Mallee, and enrolments need to be paid to secure your place.

https://www.aicd.com.au/referrer/partner-program.html

Governance isn't always sexy......But good governance changes communities.

It strengthens clubs.
It strengthens businesses.
It strengthens not-for-profits.
It strengthens leadership.

Most importantly, it strengthens the decisions that shape our future.

If you've been thinking about it, now is the time.

And if it's not for you, please tap someone on the shoulder.

A board member.
A business owner.
A future leader.
A community volunteer.

Let's make sure this opportunity stays in our region.

Please share.

14/06/2026

Sometimes a conversation changes your perspective.

Listening to stories that challenged us to think differently about independence, financial wellbeing, disability, and how quickly life can change is something we should all do more of.

It's easy to assume we know how systems work until we find ourselves, or someone we love, needing to navigate them under very different circumstances. Whether it's managing finances with a disability, supporting a family member through illness, or planning for unexpected changes in life, these are conversations many of us don't have until we have to.

What struck us most was the reminder that inclusion isn't just about access — it's about understanding, empathy, dignity, and ensuring people can participate fully in decisions that affect their lives.

As leaders, community members, employers, volunteers, parents and friends, there is value in stepping into someone else's shoes and asking: "What if this was me? What if this was someone I love?"

At Northern Mallee Leaders, we believe leadership starts with curiosity, listening, and being willing to see the world through a different lens.

This story left us reflecting on how we can build stronger, more inclusive communities that support people through all stages of life.

Because the reality is, this could be any one of us.

Thanks M Group and Legless and Blind

🎙️ FS360 Podcast 81 - The human side of financial wellbeing - life, resilience, and perspective.

Welcome back to the FS360 podcast brought to you by M Group, where we explore the human side of financial wellbeing - because money decisions are never just about numbers; they’re about life, resilience, and perspective.

Host Gavin Nash welcomes Lynde Adams, financial planner and aged care professional in our Mildura office. Today’s conversation is one that really brings those themes together. We’re joined by Ben Pettingil and Mike Rolls, also known as Legless and Blind, who have lived experiences of navigating physical disability from a young age.

These gentlemen are in town this week talking with community groups, business groups, schools and sporting clubs with their unique TALKIN TOUGH message. Today we’ll talk about resilience, mindset, and importantly—how those experiences shape the way we think about financial security and independence.

🧑🏻‍💻 Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify in audio and video and also on our website: https://www.mgroup.partners/fs360-podcast-81-the-human-side-of-financial-wellbeing-life-resilience-and-perspective

🧑🏻‍💻 See, listen and read more about Ben and Mike here: https://www.realliferesilience.com.au/

14/06/2026

A huge thank you to Southern Cross Farms and the Imperial Football & Netball Club for supporting an incredible leadership conversation with Mike and Ben from Legless and Blind.

Special thanks to Annie and POD for their ongoing commitment to leadership, community development and grassroots impact, and to Dale Stafford and the Imperials team for welcoming us into your outstanding new clubrooms.

These conversations challenge us to think differently about leadership, inclusion, resilience, our clubs, our businesses, our families and our communities.
When community organisations and local businesses work together, powerful things happen.

Thank you also to The Heart Health Check Community Project , and Mike and Ben for helping bring the conversation to life.

Check out Mike and Bens PODCAST

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/talkin-tough/id1701915866
https://open.spotify.com/show/2NnGtuJznFJKZvy2Wiy7xg?si=620bf4a8dfb84ed9

12/06/2026

Wider Community and NML Alumni – let's get behind these events.

Not only are they a fantastic opportunity to learn from AI experts and see innovation in action, they're also a chance for us to reconnect and support the delivery of high-quality leadership and industry events in our region.

🚀 AI Unlocked is coming to Mildura – and this is one you won't want to miss!

Join us for two exciting events designed to help you understand AI, learn from expert speakers, see innovation in action, and connect with leaders, professionals and changemakers from across our region.

Whether you're a business owner, manager, educator, farmer, professional, student, or simply curious about AI, there's something here for you.

💡 Learn from experts
🤝 Connect with great people
🌱 Support learning, innovation and leadership in our region
🚜 Experience the SuniTAFE Smart Farm
📈 Discover practical AI applications you can use today

These events complement each other beautifully, but you can attend either one—or make the most of the opportunity and attend both!

📅 DAY 1 | AI Unlocked: From Hype to Hands-On
🗓 Tuesday 28 July
⏰ 11:00am – 5:30pm
🎟 Register: https://events.humanitix.com/ai-unlocked-from-hype-to-hands-on

📅 DAY 2 | AI Unlocked: SuniTAFE Smart Farm Visit
🗓 Wednesday 29 July
⏰ 9:15am – 12:30pm
🎟 Register: https://events.humanitix.com/ai-unlocked-sunitafe-smart-farm-visit/tickets

As Northern Mallee Leaders graduates and alumni, this is a fantastic opportunity for us to reconnect, learn together and continue supporting high-quality events that strengthen our region.

Know someone who would benefit? Tag them below or share this post!

12/06/2026

What a week. 💙
Sorry for the long post and delayed thanks, but please read to the end.

Firstly, a huge thank you to Ben Pettingill and Mike Rolls from Legless and Blind for spending three days in our region as part of Mallee Community Wellbeing Week.

Over workplaces, schools, sporting clubs and community events, they shared their stories with hundreds of people across our region. Their message was powerful, honest, relatable and delivered with plenty of humour.

Life changed overnight for both Ben and Mike through health challenges they never saw coming. Their story is a reminder to all of us that resilience, inclusion, connection and support matter more than we often realise.

If you're involved in a workplace, school, sporting club or community organisation and looking for speakers who create genuine impact, I cannot recommend Ben and Mike highly enough.

Alongside their presentations, we were also fortunate to have Northern Mallee Leaders graduate Katrina Umback join us throughout the week.

Katrina shared an equally important message around heart health and the incredible work being undertaken through The Heart Health Check Community Project. While Ben and Mike challenged us to think about life differently, Katrina reminded us that our health is something we should never take for granted.

A huge thank you to Katrina and everyone who helped make these events possible — our sponsors, volunteers, schools, sporting clubs, community organisations, facilitators and the dedicated Mallee Community Wellbeing Week Working Group.

Collaboration is what made this week successful.

We're already looking forward to what we can build together next year.

In the meantime, Katrina has one simple message for our community:

❤️ Be Smart. Check Your Heart.

To learn more or get involved: 👉 https://www.oneheart.au/

Because healthy communities start with healthy people.

Katrina Umback
The Heart Health Check Community Project
La Trobe University, Mildura Campus

10/06/2026

Got a great project needing some funding.
The Australia Post Community Grants are now open with up to $10,000 funding available for locally led and delivered projects that help people meaningfully connect and improve mental wellbeing outcomes in their community.

https://auspost.com.au/about-us/supporting-communities/grants/community-grants-program?cid=edm:CONS_GC_COM_PRO_20260609_Community_Grant_Launch

Got to be in it to win it!

The Australia Post Community Grants program funds projects that boost mental wellbeing and connection in local communities. Learn how to apply.

10/06/2026

Hi NML followers and supporter.
If you can attend an event in person across our region or find the time to complete the survey I encourage you all to do so.
I will be attending the Mildura in person Forum on the 22nd June

Help shape our new Arts and Culture Strategy

We’re developing a new Arts and Culture Strategy that will shape the future direction of arts, culture and creativity across our region over the next five years and beyond!

Do you want to contribute to the future of arts and culture in our community? We want to hear from you!

➡ Complete an online survey
➡ Join our in-person Consultation Forums
➡ Complete a written submission

Visit https://bit.ly/ArtsandCultureStrategy2026 to learn more and have your say.

Survey closes Monday 6 July 2026

09/06/2026

A big thank you to Jo Maree from Mental Health Mallee 💙

Thank you for being part of our and Blind Youth Session on 20 May and sharing such practical, important mental health tips with the young people in the room.

Your work in our community matters, and we were grateful to have you involved in Mallee Community Wellbeing Week.

07/06/2026

What a powerful afternoon. 💙

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Legless and Blind Community Session.

As Ben and Mike shared their stories, many of us saw a little of ourselves, our families, our workplaces and our communities reflected in their message.

Life can change in an instant.

Their stories reminded us that resilience isn't about facing challenges alone. It's about connection, support, inclusion and being willing to look out for one another.

A huge thank you to our community for showing up, listening, laughing and engaging in some very real conversations.

Special thanks to:
⭐ Adams for being a wonderful MC and guiding the afternoon so beautifully
⭐ M Group for their sponsorship and support of the event. As a trusted local financial advisory business, they help people plan for life's unexpected moments and build greater financial security for the future.
⭐ Wellways Mental Health & Wellbeing Local team for the incredible work they do supporting people across our region every day.

This session reminded us that when communities come together, share stories and support one another, we are stronger.

Thank you Mildura. Let's continue the conversations, keep checking in on each other, and keep building a more inclusive and connected community.

Thanks Community

06/06/2026

Investing in our young people is investing in the future of our region. 💙

A huge thank you to the schools, teachers, wellbeing teams and students who joined us for the Legless and Blind Youth Session as part of Mallee Community Wellbeing Week.

While Northern Mallee Leaders has not traditionally worked in the youth space, this event reinforced something we strongly believe — young people are an important part of our community and future leadership pipeline.

Ben and Mike created an environment where students could think differently, challenge perspectives, ask questions and learn practical tools around resilience, support networks and navigating life's challenges.

Thank you to Mildura Rural City Council and the Mildura Sporting Precinct for providing such a fantastic space to bring schools together.

This session was a wonderful example of what can happen when community organisations, educators and local leaders collaborate with a shared purpose.

We are excited about the opportunities ahead and look forward to continuing conversations with schools and youth organisations to help build stronger, more connected and confident young leaders across our region.

Thanks also to Bendigo Health for the financial support for this event.