New Director Joins the Team
By Leigh Robshaw

Margo Balfour is the newest Director to join the Co-op Board. She was welcomed at the Board meeting on 21 May, and brings a wealth of experience and ideas to the Co-op.
Margo became involved in the behind-the-scenes workings of the Co-op after the last AGM, when Alan Harrington called for a volunteer to assist with the additional work created by the Co-op's merger with The UpFront Club. Margo graciously took up the challenge, and has since been learning more about the Co-op by working with the Directors and attending Board meetings as an observer.
Margo has held a variety of roles in management and administration. She has a great deal of financial expertise, and has worked in research for the private, media, government, and tertiary education sectors. She has also worked in events and tour management, and in artisan and farming communities, both in Australia and Italy. Her experience serving on the Boards of various community and cultural organisations will also stand her in good stead for her new role.
Behind Margo's involvement with the Co-op and local community, is a belief that the health and wealth of a community is dependent on the co-operation and contribution of its members to local production of resources and food.
A quest for a more sustainable lifestyle in an active local community, that is closer to family and friends, has led Margo to try to exchange her farm at Ravensbourne, near Crows Nest, for a similar property in Maleny.
Margo was originally attracted to this area for its clean air, green rolling hills, rich red soil, cooling elevation, high rainfall, and its commitment to keeping and developing a local, sustainable, co-operative community.
Margo's interests include development of sustainable systems for energy, housing, farming and food production in local communities; economic and financial systems; Italian language and culture; flute and recorder; ceramics production and decoration; tennis, squash and sailing.

[From "Maple Street Co-op News", June/July 2007; published by The Maple Street Co-operative Society Ltd, 37 Maple Street, Maleny, Qld 4552, Australia, tel (07) 5494 2088, email maplest.co-op@serv.net.au, website http://www.maplestreetco-op.com.au]