A letter to my community

In case you missed the meet the candidate session, here is the speech I delivered:

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Hello and thank you for being here and taking an interest in our local council elections.

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So, what truly defines a good councillor? In the Macedon Ranges, we deserve to ask: What makes an excellent councillor?

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An excellent councillor embodies:

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• Integrity,

• Passion,

• Resilience,

• Determination,

• While understanding the importance good governance and local council functions,

• A commitment to community (not agendas),

• And a dash of courage!

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I may be a little uncomfortable here in the spotlight, but, as a community advocate, addiction and mental health recovery worker, mother of three and former small business owner, I possess the values of an excellent councillor.

 

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The East Ward Community has expressed it wants - Action!

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• Balanced, considered, and sustainable progress to enhance our community.

• Our vision must include

• fostering social engagement,

• local business investment,

• innovative development,

• and advocacy for the environment, given it is unable to advocate for itself.

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Most importantly, for our East Ward to stand equal/unified to the West and South wards.

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Sadly, our community has faced fragmentation:

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• Misinformation

• Personal agendas

• Unfulfilled promises

• Empty commercial buildings and land banking

• A lack of investment from all levels of government

• An endless cycle of feasibility studies that lack timely follow-through

 

I am running for council because I want to make a real difference. I aim to support and strengthen our East Ward, giving voice to those who often go unheard—those with soft voices and the overlooked groups within our communities.

 

This week, I spoke with a local agri-business owner who expressed frustration over bureaucratic roadblocks. They are with left wondering how much to set aside for contingencies amidst uncertainty and diminishing confidence.

 

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Over the past 18 months, I have been an active participant in:

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• Better Futures Romsey

• The Macedon Water Think Tank

• Keep Romsey Pokies Free

• This week we all received the news of service reactivation at the Sunbury & Cobaw Community Health Centre, Romsey site. Which will open in a limited capacity on October 23rd!

 

As a community member, I know how tight deadlines can be for researching information and preparing submissions for consultation.

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If elected councillor I could engage more deeply in this process—asking questions and seeking supporting evidence—our community can become better informed and united.

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Together, we can work towards reducing the divisions that have plagued us over the years.

 

During a recent workshop, a service provider acknowledged, “We have not financially invested in our operation as we should. The backlog has meant we are now playing a difficult game of catch-up.” This may seem obvious, but it gives me hope. It signals an awareness that service and infrastructure providers know they must do better.

 

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Our East Ward voices are getting louder!

 

I’m proud of the efforts by the Keep Romsey Pokies Free group, which hosted a community education event earlier this year. I submitted a detailed 22-page response to the VGCCC regarding the gaming application at the local hotel. The risks posed to our community were substantial, and I found the use of the football club in this context opportunistic and lacking in transparency.

 

What stands out to me is the unprecedented number of quality submissions—106, to be exact, with over 80% opposing the application. It’s disheartening that while the club celebrated its 150th anniversary this year, our community missed an opportunity to unite as a community in celebration.

 

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I take immense pride in our East Ward when considering:

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• Our collective resilience

• The advocacy of the Riddells Creek planning group, which drew over 400 attendees to its most recent town meeting.

• How our community united and adapted during Covid.

• The thriving agri-business and tourism community.

• Our vibrant street libraries, dedicated volunteers and small community groups.

• The enduring and unique 18-year partnership between tenant Lancefield op shop and their landlords.

 

We are a community that continues to find its voice, even amid the chaos of social media.

In my work, addiction recovery, I’ve learnt to observe and understand the bigger picture and how important playing to our strengths are.

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I believe that optimism combined with action is the catalyst for real change, and I know that we are ready for that change.

 

I encourage you to use your vote wisely. Vote for a diverse council team that compliments the needs of our community so can collectively work together to create a brighter future for our 20-town strong East Ward!

If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to me.