Cromwell is abuzz with growth, most notably new subdivisions and big ticket public projects like the new hall and mall revamp. Being at the helm of both the town’s Community Board and a growing primary school would only be a job for someone with next level organisational skills. Anna Harrison is that person and here she shares her thoughts on 2021 and the year to come.

2021 started off with a lull in the COVID 19 pandemic and a sense of relative normality. I certainly had a feeling of optimism about the year ahead and getting on with the job both in my role as principal of Goldfields School and as Chair of the Cromwell Community Board.

The Community Board was very much focussed on the Long Term Plan process. There were lengthy workshops to attend as well as our scheduled meetings to ensure that there was a good understanding of the process and what was being included for Cromwell. I really enjoyed the opportunity to hear from our community as we made once in a generation decisions to progress major capital projects for Cromwell.

The sense that we are on the brink of something really special has stayed with me throughout the year.

There was a sense of inevitability about the decision to go into Level 4 lockdown in August. Lockdown threw our school back to distance learning. We had learnt a lot from 2020 and were able to swing back into this mode relatively smoothly.

There was much more uncertainty about the length of time that we would be at Level 4 and this made planning challenging. My team rose to the challenge and I am immensely proud of how they connected with students and provided opportunities for learning.

Forging ahead in 2022

There has still been much to celebrate over 2021. We are all living with new ‘normals’ and I get the sense that we are still forging ahead and making positive future plans. I have loved seeing our community come together to ensure events and activities have still gone ahead while managing new public health protocols.

I am excited that I might get to be the board chair who sees physical action on the hall project. I am booking a front row viewing spot of the demolition team rolling in to get visible work underway. There is still a lot of work to do to get us there but I am positive that we have the team to get it done.

Cromwell is a great place to live, work and play and I feel very privileged to be in the positions I am in at school and on the Community Board. I am grateful for the great people I work with in both organisations and the commitment and passion that they put into their roles.

I think COVID will remain a challenge in 2022 but that we can still move forward positively as a community.