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Colin Wells Co-opted Representative Colin is the branch manager of the Tongala and District Community Bank at Tongala. One of his earliest positions was as Echuca manager for the Bendigo Bank and since then he has come “full circle.” From the bank he undertook a dairy traineeship at Rochester, sharefarmed in Echuca, and then became a sales representative for a local office and information technology firm before taking up the Tongala position Strengths he brings to CCLLEN: “ I have first-hand experience of job change which young people themselves will face. You do not have to stay with choices you made at 15. I’ve seen the sensational work kids can produce. But so-called ‘real jobs’ seem to breed all the flair and adventurous spirit out of them. I firmly believe we must not stifle young people but instead find niches for their special gifts to fit into. These kids of 18 and 19 will be our leaders in 30 years – if not trained now, they never will be.” Aspirations for CCLLEN: “We need employers to speak up much more and tell us more of the success stories – kids who are making it without the need for formal qualifications and identifying clearly how that process happens. Like the car mechanic working with the racing team, and the hairdresser who did not do well at school but now wins top awards. The community should be told of these. VET and VCAL are going a long way in helping but we need to go even further into non-traditional job areas. We have to empower the kids so they will tell us what they need. The CCLLEN Board has an amazing cross-section of networks to assist in this. Back