History of CNAV
CNAV was established on 16 July 2005 following a Victorian Small Rural Communities Health Conference at Omeo in late 2003.
It is open to any community newspaper in Victoria. A community newspaper is defined as ‘one that is owned by its community’. Community newspapers have a very strong culture of volunteerism.
Associate membership is available to interstate and overseas community newspapers, natural persons, State and Commonwealth government departments, local government, business or community group having an interest in the area served by CNAV.
Vision
Community newspapers are the voice of the community
Mission statement
We will actively work with our members to enhance the capacity and standing of community newspapers to enable them to fully realise their role in their communities
Objectives
- To develop an active network that will support the development and continuation of community newspapers in local communities.
- To raise the profile of community newspapers with all levels of government.
- To foster co-operation between community newspapers.
- To hold an annual conference and awards night.
Committee of Management
The CNAV Committee is made up of representatives from CNAV member publications.
Committee representatives are nominated and voted in at the annual CNAV conference in October for a two-year term.
At the conclusion of the term, those on the Committee wishing to continue must be re-nominated and voted in.
The current 2025-2026 CNAV Committee is:
- James Poyner from Warrandyte Diary/Manningham & Nillumbik Bulletin (President)
- Sandi Miller from Warrandyte Diary/Manningham & Nillumbik Bulletin (Minutes Secretary/website)
- Caroline Roff from Koo Wee Rup Blackfish (Treasurer)
- Helen Smith from Upper Beaconsfield Village Bell (Membership)
- Josephine Falzarano from New Woodend Star
- Dr Elaine Saunders from New Woodend Star
- Emily Macdonald from Connecting Sebastopol Community News
- Mary Hughes from Neerim Star
If you wish to contact a committee member, please email [email protected]
History of Committee members
Aborete, Terefe 2007
Allen, Daniel (Around Altona) 2008-2009
Beales, Jenny (Mountain Monthly) 2006-2007
Billings, Graeme 2006
Bolmat, Michelle (Mountain Monthly) 2005-2006
Boudourian, Thea (Ferntree Gully News) 2013-2015
Bourke OAM, Mick (Traf News) 2005–2008, 2013-2018 (President 2005-2008)
Brackley, Anne (SpringDale Messenger) 2016-2022 (Secretary 2016-2022)
Bradfield, Karen (Churchill & District News) 2008-2009
Burgoyne, Sandy (Warrandyte Diary) 2006–2008
Burgi, Anne (North and West Melbourne News) 2021-2023
Burr, Tracey (Churchill and District News) 2020-2022
Campbell, Berni (Bridge Connect) 2008-2009
Cole, Meredith (Emerald Messenger) 2018-2020
Cook, Marina (Upper Gully News) 2013–2014
Croucher, Tim (Tallangatta Herald) 2013-2016
Downie, Alexia (New Woodend Star) 2015-2018 (Vice President 2016)
Ellis, John 2008 (Chewton Chat) co-opted, 2009, 2011–2018 (President 2013–2016)
Evans, Linda (Garfield Spectator) 2020-ongoing
Falzarano, Josephine (New Woodend Star) 2023-ongoing
Farrow, Mary (Emerald Messenger) 2018-2020 (President 2019-20)
Fortuna, Mary Jo (Waranga News) 2005–2013 (President 2009–2011, 2012-2013, Vice President 2011-2012, Secretary 2006–2007, 2008-2009)
Hart, Elizabeth (Associate Member) 2007–2012 (President 2008-2009, 2011–2012, Vice President 2007–2008, Secretary 2009-2011)
Hawkins, Vanessa (Goonong Guide) 2012–2013
Huggins, Tim (Mountain Monthly) 2008-2010
Hughes, Mary (Neerim Star) 2025-ongoing
Holschier, Bob (About Town) 2005–2006 (Vice President 2005–2006)
Macdonald, Emily (Connecting Sebastapol) 2025-ongoing
Jacapino, Lois (Traf News) 2007-2008 (Secretary 2007–2008)
Miller, Sandra (Warrandyte Diary) 2018- ongoing (Secretary 2023-
Mortimore, John (Boronia The Basin Community News) 2006-2007
Mynard, Jim (Associate Member) co-opted 2012
O’Mara, Mick (Winchelsea Star) 2017-2019
Osman, Khalid (The Ambassador) 2006
Oshlack, Ian (Guilford Globe) 2012–2014
Poyner, James (Warrandyte Diary) 2019-ongoing
Roff, Caroline (Koo Wee Rup BlackFish) 2010–ongoing (Secretary 2011–2015, Treasurer 2016-)
Saunders, Elanie (New Woodend Star) 2024-ongoing
Shaddock, Corrinne (Great Gisborne Gazette) 2021- 2025 (Secretary 2022-2023)
Smith, Helen (Village Bell) 2005–ongoing (Treasurer 2005–2015)
Toft-Hansen, Jens Kristian (Ferntree Gully News) 2013–2025 (Vice President 2013-2016, 2019-) (President 2017-2019)
Villagonzalo, Walter (Heathdale Chatter) 2005-2006
Vondra, Jo (Lorne Independent) 2006–2012 (Vice President 2008-2012)
Walters, Anne (Heathdale Chatter) 2005–2006 (Secretary 2005–2006)
Wood, Georgina (Goonong Guide) co-opted 2013
Woodhouse, Fay (Lancefield Mercury) 2019-2020