PanCom Meeting Minutes
22 Aug 2026, 1.30pm, Birth & Beyond
Attendees:
Emma Toner, Robert Durand, Paul Tait, Doone Wyborne, Lynda Jones, Mel (Me) Jauch, Binnah Pownell, Julie Townsend, Saskia, Wick, Jeni Kendell, Sue Bonner, Sattwa, Garry Gray, Rod Conroy, Danny Dingo, Lisa Yeats
Apologies:
Linda Bell, Amulet ov Acorn, Even Dawn, Myles Beaufort
Chair: Emma
Minutes: Lynda Jones
Acknowledgement of Country – Sattwa
Acceptance of previous minutes – accepted
1. Pancom Update
Pancom now has a Treasurer, Secretary and President to fulfil banking requirements and has successfully opened a Pancom bank account with Summerland Bank. Having the bank account in place will now allow the GoFundMe campaign to proceed (once NAFI approval gained), along with the website and forum.
NAFI AGM was postponed so auspice is not yet in place.
Announcements:
Brian Forbes email was read out – seeking expressions of interest for foundation members of an 8-person older women’s coop in Kyogle. Consisting of self-contained yurt units, with a common room and two options of investment with the cheapest being $135k for yurt and leasing the site (rent assistance available). Tenants in common is the other option. Brian can be contacted on 0415638380 – usefulyurts@yahoo.com.au
Lisa Yeats, formerly of Nimbin, was visiting the area and joined the meeting. She has 50 years’ experience with local MOs and access to important, digitised documents pertaining to the original Pancom, which she will forward to us.
2. Functional circles
Functional Pancom circles of 2-3 members are required to move Pancom forward:
- Meeting coordination – Julie Townsend, Lynda Jones and Emma (on return in November). Responsible for booking the room, agenda items, poster creation, printing and distribution on noticeboards (forward to social media team).
- Communications and mailing list – Emma, Myles & Julie. Responsible for checking the Pancom email inbox, keeping mailing list up to date and sending newsletters and sharing information from Pancom members.
- Social media – Julie Townsend and Binnah
- Website – Rob and Wick. To include a donation function, and the Gofundme will also refer back to the website.
- Website content – yet to be organised.
- Pancom branding– Wick to coordinate. Call for local artists. Sattwa mentioned an artist on Siddha Farm and Jen Harkness was mentioned.
- Zoom/online meeting access – Paul Tait
- Indigenous connection and representation –Binnah
- Sounding Board – to act as a sounding board for Pancom members, offering guidance so that the aims and objectives of Pancom remain at the heart of circle activities and decision-making – concept agreed Emma, Jeni, Doon, and others to be confirmed.
- Secretary – check PO Box at Nimbin Post Office. Raise annual meeting to review treasurer, secretary, president positions.
3. PanCom Campout Circle
Sattwa has suggested a Save the Date for the Siddha Farm Camp out. This is to be the weekend of 21-22 November.. Access will be available to those who would like to arrive on Friday 20th.
A gathering whatsapp circle will be created and those interested in helping to organise can chat (Sattwa, Dingo, Emma, Julie, Mel).
4. Focus Circles
Jeni kindly collated a list of the needs, goals and suggestions for Pancom as raised by attendees in the early Pancom meetings. Prior to the meeting Emma loosely divided the list into topics to provide a talking point for the Pancom ‘focus circles’. A copy of the list was shared around and is attached.
The focus circles are created when someone initiates the formation of the circle and invites others to join. . The groups thus far are:
Outreach / Networking Circle – to promote connection through Pancom of the 150+ communities in the region
Binnah and Even will be coordinating contact with neighbouring communities.
Garry Gray will conduct the outreach in Kyogle and Blackhorse Creek.
Doone suggested that each of us could call those we know living in communities, to encourage them to come along to a PanCom meeting.
Legislation Circle – to review and update repealed MO legislation so to provide a framework that promotes the success and sustainability of existing communities and the creation of new communities in line with low-cost, affordable and environmentally considerate housing.
Garry, Rod, Sattwa & Doone will coordinate.
Conflict Resolution Circle (to be renamed) –Saskia, Garry, Emma (Trish tbc) will coordinate. Saskia emphasised the need to replace ‘I’ thinking to ‘we’ thinking.
Other Circles that were initially suggested, and are yet to be confirmed are:
- Community Share Financing & Community Insurance
- Ageing & Inter-generational Living
- Council Government & Advocacy
- Sustainability of Communities & Community Enterprises
- Food security, resilience & disaster readiness
- Community Living & Governance
5. Resources & Guides
Discussion was held regarding the benefit of having a resource library available to those looking for information on community living, as well as information packages that can be forwarded to young people who express interest in starting their own community.
6. Bank account update & Funding
Mel advised that our bank account is non-interest although the account is part of the Summerland ‘Community Partnership’ and offers to match a small percentage of the interest accrued in members who bank with Summerland as a donation – if you bank with Summerland please request to activate this option with PanCom.
Once we are auspiced under NAFI a registered charity, we will submit our ‘accounts’ to be included in their tax returns (as a not for profit).
Garry enquired as to funding sources, suggesting we may consider a tiered membership.
Meeting Closed at 4pm.