I’ve been visiting Eurobodalla since I was four, and I have had the privilege of living most of my adult life here, raising our three children, two of whom were born in Moruya.  Two of my three grandchildren were also born here, and now live nearby.

I’ve worked in the Shire in many roles. I established and then led Council’s Community Services division between 1988 and 1994.  My wife and I owned Smith’s Music in Batemans Bay between 2001 and 2006, and I worked with my wife, who managed the florist in Moruya between 2007 and 2012, and my brother who owns the Protea Patch plantation in Broulee.  I worked with Anglicare’s homelessness services in 2009, and I worked as a child protection worker in the Shire for five years.

In these roles I have worked with people from all walks of life. For some, life here is easy, and they have all they need to live well.  For many others, services and facilities they need to live well are not available, and these people need the Council to do its job supporting and advocating for them. We need to make sure that everyone who lives here has the opportunities they need to live a good life.

Eurobodalla is my home.  I want it to be a place where residents are proud to live here, and visitors want to come back because it is welcoming and feels cared for. Council has a central role to play in achieving this result, and for too long the Council has been failing.

I’m proud to be part of a Labor team committed to making the Council a strong advocate for all who live in and visit the Shire. We will welcome contributions from residents who want to have a role in the Council’s business, we will listen to those whose voices are hard to hear over the louder voices that now dominate Council. We will be strong advocates to other levels of government so that Eurobodalla gets the services and facilities it needs and deserves.

If you would like to talk to me about the Council working in partnership with the community, please phone 0466 487 844