A case study of a rural community in Western Australia examined factors responsible for the progress made in breaking down barriers between youth and adults and building community cohesiveness. Community documents and interviews with school personnel, students, and community members revealed that the high school worked with the community to build a number of school-community linkages, including involving the community in school decision making, introducing a work studies program into the senior curriculum, and introducing the state emergency services "cadet scheme" into the school. Although these efforts were funded initially by government grants, their success depended on key people in the school and community who capitalized on these opportunities through a leadership process based on the development and maintenance of relationships. Leaders within the school built relationships with community members and enabled these people to become leaders within their own community. As the relationships developed, mutual trust was built. As trust increased, community support for and sense of ownership of the school increased, contributing to the sustainability of the school-community linkage. Outcomes included increased self-esteem of youth; increased skills and knowledge among youth relevant to their community, resulting in greater numbers of youth taking up local employment and volunteer activities; increased leadership skills among local business operators; new sources of learning for the school within the community; and increased student retention rates. (Contains 16 references.) (TD)