About Us

Newstead 2050 is the new iteration of Newstead 2021 which was originally established to support the development of a vibrant, informed and sustainable community in our town and surrounds. This remains our purpose.

We are guided by an elected committee of volunteers – interested members of our local community – who work actively and collaboratively towards this goal. Like to join us? 

Get Involved

Our purpose in detail

1.

To support

the discussion and implementation of ideas and projects that benefit the Newstead community

2.

To seek

and communicate relevant information about issues concerning our community

3.

To support

actions that improve the social, cultural, economic and environmental wellbeing of the Newstead community

4.

To promote

two way dialogue with Local Government

5.

Seek Resources

To actively seek resources that can contribute to our goal
Membership

Newstead 2050 Committee

The Newstead 2050 Committee is appointed annually by our members. Our Committee members offer a great range of skills and knowledge to our projects.

New Committee members are always welcome.    

Dimity Fifer, President

A long term CEO, I have worked across Australia and globally for more than 20 years. Now my happy place is in my garden in beautiful Newstead and joining in local projects. I have a flair for lending a hand and am constantly inspired by the energy and talent in this great little town.

Annelies Chaplin, Secretary

As coordinator of the Newstead Community Garden, I am passionate about local food security and the benefits of community gardening for social connection, mental health and self-sufficiency. I'm also a teacher with over 15 years' experience and am keen to share my knowledge to support people to discover the joys of growing their own fresh, seasonal produce. I am currently the secretary of N2050.

Don Culvenor

A lifetime of Don’s community involvement in local sports clubs, schools, Landcare, fire brigade, etc have evolved into a few larger local projects currently, particularly  Renewable Newstead. Forty-five years of hard work and risk-taking in business allow Don the time to enjoy travel away from Victoria's winters. Photos by Marienske Lazne, the Czech Republic.

Jen Dyer

My experiences include secondary teaching, adult education, community and recreation planning, community development, policy development, project management, volunteer management, grants administration - working in local and State government and the not-for-profit sectors, always with a focus on life-long learning and inclusion. I’ve also have been/am involved in many volunteering activities. I am currently the Convenor of Newstead Walks and Wheels. Shot putter (retd).

Katie Kilgour

I’m a community member, mother to two teens and have lived and worked locally for nine years. I try to balance my role as a mother and teacher with gardening, yoga, and a passion for creative expression. I’m a practising multidisciplinary artist and find great joy in expressing myself creatively.

Geoff Park

I am a local independent ecologist and writer and I work with our local community on initiatives that generate positive social, environmental and economic benefits. At present my major contribution is as part of the Renewable Newstead team acting as the convenor.

Dean McLaren

I believe community input is vital to the richness and survival of regional towns. Over the years have participated a variety of community initiatives, most recently, Newstead Young Writers Festival, set up to support the next generation of writers. I’m an avid paddler on our local waterways.

Genevieve Barlow

I moved to Newstead at the start of this century! The community and riverside environment has embraced and nourished me and given me great friendships and opportunities, many of which developed through volunteering on local projects. I’ve been involved with Newstead 2021, now Newstead 2050, the railway station restoration, the community garden and Renewable Newstead. I was grateful especially for the opportunity to work, briefly, in paid community development work here and to learn so much through our local community energy project which resulted in a small-scale solar farm being built locally.

Chris Johnston

It’s more than 20 years since I moved to Green Gully and fell in love with the vibrant Newstead community. I’m involved with Talking Fire, Newstead Open Studios and Newstead Writers and served as Chair of the Newstead Arts Hub for five years. Newstead 2050 nurtures new projects and organisations – it’s a great group to be part of.

Mark Pearse

Mark Pearse serves as the bookkeeper for Newstead 2050 and all of our groups and projects.

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We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Dja Dja Wurrung people, traditional custodians of this land, and to their Elders; past, present and emerging. We acknowledge that this land has never been ceded.