Council
10 October, 2024
Council candidates tour for a chat
MOYNE Shire Council candidates Karen Foster, Myra Murrihy and Lisa Ryan joined together to meet voters across the shire as ballots begin to be sent out.
Over the weekend the trio hit the road as part of their joint effort to meet with voters ahead of this month’s election.
Mrs Ryan said the idea of visiting smaller communities in the shire had come about as the three were aware of the perception council focusses too greatly on Port Fairy.
“We were all talking and saying there had been a brush of Port Fairy councillors, and that’s not what we want to be,” she said.
“We’re looking to get out in the region and speak to the community across all towns in the shire.
“We thought what better way than to have three candidates to speak to, rather than one-at-a-time.”
Cr Foster the lone councillor among the group said she had enjoyed chatting with members of the community, and felt providing the option for those interested was an important aspect of representation.
“With Kym Kelly (Caramut) no longer standing, I can see how people in Mortlake and rural areas would be concerned there are no candidates who represent them,” she said.
“We genuinely wanted to send a signal that we want to be a voice for everyone.
“Just because we happen to live in Port Fairy, doesn’t mean that’s what we focus on.”
Mrs Murrihy said, since announcing her intention to stand for council, she had found the experience to be “enjoyable and enlightening”.
“The best part about campaigning, for me, has been talking to the community and hearing their frustrations, ideas and opinions,” she said.
“The people that live in these towns are the experts on their needs and what they want council to focus on.
“It’s amazing gathering that information and having that direction from community members.”
Mrs Ryan, who is also hoping to be elected for the first time, said she had gained a better understanding of the diverse wants and needs of different communities across the shire.
“I have a strong focus on families, community and older people, so I wanted to emphasise that,” she said.
“I’ve learned just how important that is to people, but also just how important the every-day requirements of council are – from roads to rates, to rubbish and wind farms.
“It’s enlightening because I’m passionate about certain things, but it has opened my eyes to what others are passionate about too and how I can represent them.”
The trio are hoping to impress voters enough to see voters break from tradition and elect more women to council.
Cr Foster has raised the point just one woman has had a seat at the council table in each term over the past 16 years.
“The election prior to this, the five women candidates only attracted 16 per cent of the primary vote,” she said.
“It’s a lot of people who aren’t voting for women, and I don’t know what’s behind it.
“But the reason I’m here with Lisa and Myra is I wanted to see more diversity on council – whether that is age, gender, geography, whatever.
“Women make up 51 per cent of the population and we’re an important voice.
“It’s not to say men can’t represent the issues pertinent to women, but there are voices missing on council and I have often felt some decisions might have gone differently with more diverse voices around the table.”
Mrs Ryan said she wanted to show women were “capable and ready to represent their community”.
“I wouldn’t have put my hand up without a role model like Karen,” she said.
“I think it’s important to see what you want to be, and that’s driven me to be able to see what’s possible.
“Diversity is so important because our community is diverse, so council needs to be diverse too – and having only one woman represented in the seven positions on council is not enough.
“Representation of different genders, ages, socioeconomic status and backgrounds are all important.”
Mrs Murrihy agreed with the sentiment Cr Foster, and past councillors such as Jill Parker, had been role models for what women can achieve when given an opportunity.
“My hope, if elected, is we could shift not only to female candidates but younger candidates who typically don’t stand,” she said.
“If we could attract more female voters and engage some of the younger generation, that would be important in having a diverse range of opinions and engagement in council decisions.”
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