From kitchen tables to the boardroom – NE Vic shows what’s possible
Last Thursday, 7 August 2025 in Yackandandah, leaders, community members and energy stakeholders from across North East Victoria came together for the second Regional Energy Accord roundtable.
The day began with an unforgettable Acknowledgement of Country performed by the Yackandandah Primary School Grade 3–6 Choir. Their voices, filled with pride for place, Country and care for the environment, grounded the conversation in intergenerational responsibility — a reminder of what is truly at stake in the energy transition.
Conversation rich in clarity, courage, complexity and care
The roundtable, opened by Cathy McGowan AO and closed by Dr Helen Haines MP, was supported by Totally Renewable Yackandandah (TRY) and its Chair, Matthew Charles-Jones. Together, participants explored what the Accord could look like, how it might be governed and the values it must uphold.
The insights shared were clear:
Trust is the currency of change – relationships, honesty and listening come first.
Fairness is foundational – every community must see and feel the benefits.
Communities want to shape the transition, not just host it.
The Accord must be locally led, nationally connected and grounded in shared values that communities can trust.
Local wisdom, national relevance
Yackandandah’s own journey — from community-owned solar projects to shared batteries and EV charging — offers inspiration, but more importantly, a process grounded in listening and local leadership.
Collaborators shared stories of acting without “waiting for permission,” building their own solutions and ensuring benefits are tangible and locally felt. The challenge and the opportunity for the Accord is to capture that spirit while remaining fair, inclusive and adaptable to every community’s context.
Keeping the momentum
This wasn’t “just another talkfest” — it was the work. The room left with a shared vision of a transition that strengthens communities, now and for generations to come.
Thank you to the people of North East Victoria for your honesty, courage and generosity, and to TRY, Cathy McGowan AO and Dr Helen Haines MP for your leadership and inspiration.
The Regional Energy Accord now turns to the Wimmera Southern Mallee for workshops in Horsham on 20–21 August.
