Photo by Seventy8 PhotographyNorman Huon – Retired business man
My Background:
I have a Commerce Degree and MBA from the University of Melbourne, am a qualified accountant and licenced real estate agent. I retired from business about 5 years ago having worked in many industries and positions. That included time with the Ford Motor Co. in Australia and Canada, St Martins Property Corporation in the UK and McKinsey's in Melbourne and New York. I worked in the Timber Industry for 12 years, with a chartered accountant and Orica, to name a few.
Why I volunteered:
I felt extremely fortunate to have the resources to retire while I still had a few active brain cells and a desire to do some form of voluntary work. I suppose that this reflects some middle class guilt but the ICV advertisement in the Australian couldn’t have come at a better time for me. There was really no good excuse for not becoming involved. The ICV concept looked so sound, they had an established track record, found the projects for you and provided support and training—and arranged travel to projects and accommodation—so convenient and it doesn’t cost you a cent. Added to this was the opportunity to work on projects that are intellectually challenging and that address what many people consider to be one of the most pressing socio-economic challenges facing any Australians with a brain and a heart.
My projects:
I have worked on 5 projects so far—two short exercises in Corporate Governance and associated matters, one" scoping "exercise for a cattle property in the Gulf of Carpentaria and two for an Aboriginal Corporation that holds a pastoral lease on behalf of 3 language groups in Far North Queensland. I am continuing to work on this latter project.
The Corporation acquired a badly run down beef breeding property through the Indigenous Land Corporation with very few resources to rehabilitate the station to the stage where it could produce a sustainable income and provide the base to deliver a range of social programs.
My role was to transfer business skills to the 9 member Board of the Corporation, assist them to develop a viable beef breeding business and to consider, analyse and exploit other business opportunities and social programs.
On a different level I have been involved, for the past few years in assisting the ICV to negotiate some Corporate Partnerships to fund growth and to widen the skills and contact base.
Project Successes:
I believe that I have developed a reasonable relationship with the Board to the stage where I am trusted and they will accept advice. The gates are still open, there is money in the bank, some funding for remedial works has been provided by the ILC and other funding applications are being worked through. About half the property has been agisted to provide some regular income and some breathing space while the Board attempts to rehabilitate the remainder of the property. Some unfair agreements have been renegotiated.
While the ICV involvement has had a demonstrative, positive impact, the level of skills transfer, from day one has been limited. This highlights a potential trap for many volunteers that I certainly fell into. There is a real temptation to DO rather than work with people on skills transfer and this offends the ICV approach. Having said that, there are often practical difficulties—in this case the Board members are located through a quite wide region, there are limited resources for travel and some directors work in full time jobs.
How I feel about the experience:
So far the experience has met my expectations. I have had some periods of significant self-doubt when I have wondered if I really have anything to contribute but have generally been able to convince myself that I have made at least some difference
I have met some delightful Indigenous people who have been very generous in sharing their knowledge and experience and who do not express any of the rancour that, in my view is well justified by recent history. While my knowledge of Indigenous Affairs and Culture remains shallow I have learnt a great deal, some from observing ICV project officers in action and from association with people from the Corporate sector who have had a great deal of experience. I have been to parts of Australia that I would probably not have visited were it not for ICV. Some of the highlights have included times when indigenous individuals have felt prepared to be very blunt and honest with me.
Most importantly, after dancing to other people’s tunes throughout a long business career it is great to be choosing what I want to do and feel that I am making a small contribution to an extremely worthwhile cause.
What I learnt:
Major lessons have included the following:
The degree of difficulty imposed on some Indigenous communities, combined with some community expectations as to funding outcomes is alarming. This is not a result of any lack of ability—rather it often flows from a total lack of experience in areas that are second nature to non-indigenous Australians.
The notion that major injustices lie buried in the past is nonsense. We have a short history of contact and it will take a long time to address all challenges adequately. In that sense a generation is not a long time in terms of addressing social change—unless, of course you are champing at the bit in the middle of a changing generation
A necessary precursor to any effective skills transfer is the commitment of sufficient time to establish a relationship with Indigenous clients to the stage where a level of trust is established. Many volunteers come from a “can do” business environment and it is important to control impatience about the pace of change.
Some Indigenous Communities have had unhappy experiences with individuals and agencies who have offered assistance. It has sometimes seemed that personal interest has been more important than good community outcomes. It is therefore not surprising that "outsiders" will often be regarded with some suspicion ,and time is required to establish trust and credibility.
Competent and "fair dinkum" volunteers may have a huge advantage here. Most volunteers can legitimately claim that the only reasons they have turned up, apart from being invited, are because they really want to be there, and think that they can help. Further, with no career implications flowing from outcomes, and less commercial pressure for quick results, they can afford to be very frank and take the necessary time to build relationships.
My message to would be volunteers:
"ICV presents so many interesting opportunities in such a convenient form.They find the projects, transport you to site and provide for your meals, all you have to do is give a little time."
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