For Cass Circosta, serving on the Mildura City Heart board has been all about “the little wins along the way”.
Today, the 1st of May 2025, marks 10 years since Cass joined the board, and the milestone has given her the chance to reflect on the past decade.
Cass joined the board in 2015 after all seven directors stepped down when the relationship between Mildura Rural City Council and the traders group deteriorated.
At the time, Cass had been in business with her husband David at Banjo’s Bakery for seven years and sought to understand the board members’ decision to resign.
“It was going to leave a gaping hole in an organisation that I thought was really important for the community,” Cass said, “and after the previous directors explained their decision – which I supported – they also encouraged me to join the new board to see the organisation move forward”.
Cass was concerned that if no one put their hand up, Mildura City Heart could fold, and she didn’t want to see that happen, so she immediately stepped in as treasurer – a position Cass has held for her entire 10 years on the board.
Reflecting on her time on the board, Cass said she’d seen the board and Mildura City Heart “grow in leaps and bounds”.
“Future planning is something I’ve seen really grow. We’ve got a vibrant calendar of events that we are constantly tweaking, and we are pleased to know that they are successful and well recieved by both traders and community,” she said.
“The relationship between Mildura City Heart and the traders has really grown, too.
“The collectiveness – and with Danielle at the helm for a large portion of my time – we’re putting good strategies in place and future-proofing the organisation for the benefit of the traders and the city.”
For Cass, one of the most rewarding aspects of serving on the board has been working alongside her fellow board members.
“Every director I’ve ever worked with has joined for the right reason. New directors come in with fresh eyes, which I really like. They have new ideas, and come from a cross section of industries,” she said.
“I really enjoy being around these people and seeing the positive outcomes.”
From street tree planting and updates to Langtree Mall, to banners across the precinct and beautifying the roundabouts, Cass is proud of what’s been achieved.
“Some of the big things we’ve done are great, but it’s about those little wins over time that mean the place isn’t getting tired and we’re still reinventing the area. It’s still acts as a pseudo town hall or community meeting place too, and we’re really mindful of that,” she said.
“I strongly believe the CBD is the centre of our town, it’s such an important place for our community, especially with the connectivity down to the riverfront.
“I’ve been really privileged to be on the board at a time when all these wonderful things are happening.”
Even major challenges facing the precinct have become opportunities for the trader community to show its strength.
“Covid was a really awful period, but as awful as it was, it really unified the Mildura City Heart community,” Cass said.
“The City Heart office staff were there disseminating information, on the phone and in the office, and were available to help anyone who asked.
“We had tried to get a closed Facebook group for traders together for years and it hadn’t happened, but the next thing we knew we had 300 members coming together online during Covid, and it’s kept on. It really formed this sense of community, which was great.
“We were worried it was going to drop off after that, but it has stayed strong well past that period.”
While the relationship with traders and Mildura City Heart has improved, Cass also noted that the relationship with Mildura Rural City Council has strengthened.
“We’re consistently engaged with Council building positive relationships. And because we are at the table we can advocate more effectively on behalf of the traders.”
Cass encouraged others who may be thinking of getting involved with the Mildura City Heart board to take the leap.
“It’s not as daunting as you might think!” she said.
“(Existing members) will guide you. For the first few months you listen, you learn, and the value that you can add is really hard to fathom, but being fresh has incredible value to the board.
“You might just think you run a business, but you wear so many hats and one of those hats is certainly one we’ll need.”
