BRUDERHOF COMMUNITY, INVERELL
Page: 2160
Mr TORBAY (Northern Tablelands) [6.23 p.m.]: The arrival of 80 members of the Bruderhof community in the Inverell district in 1999 was a great boost to the local economy. The group, primarily from the United States and the United Kingdom, toured regional New South Wales and parts of Queensland extensively before it decided to settle in Inverell. The choice was based on proximity to the University of New England in Armidale, the land available and the friendliness of the local community. So far, the Bruderhof have invested $9 million in buying 4,300 hectares of land near Inverell comprising two properties—Newstead and Danthonia—and in refurbishing existing buildings and building new ones. The group estimates that it spends $141,000 a month to provide for its residents and its business activities. It is estimated that the group will spend a further $10 million to establish the community and build its numbers to approximately 400.
Around 15 members of the community have established a unique sign-writing business, Danthonia Designs, producing high-quality, technologically advanced, handcrafted signs that are sold locally and internationally. Currently 50 per cent of the products are exported abroad, with the bulk of orders going to the United States of America. The group has also received inquiries from Indonesia and South Korea. Community leaders have told me that there are many business opportunities available in the Pacific rim, and that they are pursuing these markets with enthusiasm.
The group has become recognised as one of the top dimensional sign manufacturers in the world, and last year it was awarded the Inverell Best New Business Award. I was very pleased to be able to attend that function. In the December 2002 Sign Business Magazine two of the Danthonia designs were placed in the top 20 for the year, and the business won third place in the Signs of the Times international contest for its Inverell entrance sign. I congratulate Joe McKernen, Jeff Kipput, Randy Gauger and other members of the Bruderhof community for this success and their contribution to the Inverell district and the New England community.
Members of the Bruderhof community have told me that they prefer to live in regional areas because of the healthy lifestyle and business opportunities. They see no business disadvantage in living and working in rural New South Wales. I have met many members of this Christian group, and I have been impressed by their willingness to participate in the life of the local community. The development and ongoing maintenance of the Bruderhof community will create employment opportunity. As well as employing its own members, the group anticipates that it will create five new full-time jobs for local people within the next five years.
Qualified members frequently volunteer as medical technicians and fire fighters, and serve with local emergency response units. Several of the men are currently volunteer members of the New South Wales Fire Service. These fire fighters were recognised for their assistance in fighting area bushfires, particularly during last year's severe fires. The members also participate in local agricultural and horticultural societies. The young people and adults in the community regularly visit local retirement villages to interact with elderly citizens, offering their friendship and support. Bruderhof men are members of the Inverell male choir, and 19 community members recently participated in the town's combined churches choir.
Bruderhof children are home-schooled from kindergarten to Year 8, and they then go to local schools from Year 9 onwards, paying $6,000 a year per student. The group encourages international visitors. It hosted 52 guests from the United States, 11 from the United Kingdom, 5 from South Korea, and 1 each from Hungary and Switzerland. In addition, the group welcomed ministers and priests from regional Protestant and Catholic churches. Group visits to Danthonia included Probus clubs from many local towns, schoolchildren, people with disabilities and many others. The group also hosted several open houses, including one for the local Aboriginal community as part of Reconciliation Week. At a time when people speak of the decline in rural areas, the Bruderhof community, its commitment, its industry and its local involvement represent a shining example of what can be achieved. I believe that the inland offers many opportunities for business, it is a wonderful lifestyle, and people like the Bruderhofs are proving this to be correct.
Mr GAUDRY (Newcastle—Parliamentary Secretary) [6.28 p.m.]: I thank the honourable member for Northern Tablelands, who is a great promoter of his region, for bringing the Bruderhof community to the attention of the House. As the honourable member said, the group shows commitment to the local area, it attracts industry to the local area, and he gave clear examples of the group's commitment to being involved in the local community. It is obviously an extremely positive group with regard to the development of the New England region, and particularly the Inverell area.