Ward: Koriella
Tell us about what you do as a Councillor and in your private life?
Juggle! Being a mother of 10 year old twins, working as a CEO, being a councillor, retaining my various other community roles, trying to catch up with friends and spending time with my gorgeous husband – I am learning quickly to juggle all of these balls.
What do you enjoy most about your role as Councillor?
I enjoy being a part of and working in teams and so the opportunity to work as part of another team with the new councillors is wonderful. They are a great bunch of dedicated individuals who offer a wealth of knowledge on so many different levels.
I also enjoy having the opportunity to meet more amazing people who live in our community and see their talents in varying roles and getting around to visit the beautiful areas and communities that make up Murrindindi Shire.
The role of Councillor and Mayor is a privilege.
What surprised you most about your role as Councillor?
Being called a ‘young councillor’, I’m the baby of the council at 42!
What do you love most about where you live?
The natural environment – the mountains, snow, rivers and the ease of access to all of them. I love the people and the communities in which I have lived and that these communities provide a safe nurturing place for my family.
Having been in Murrindindi Shire for 16 years, it has been a great place to live in the different stages of my life – working as a professional, raising children and providing opportunities to build my professional skills and meet amazing and inspiring individuals.
What do you hope will be your legacy when your role as Councillor finishes?
To help ensure each of the communities in Murrindindi Shire remains viable, vibrant, resilient and safe communities, for future generations.
What books are you reading?
The Wife Drought by Annabel Crab – OMG a great read!!!! Very pertinent to a busy working mother’s life.
I am also re-reading a few books on the Kokoda Track, as I am heading back to PNG in July to walk the track for the second time. I have a family connection to the 2/14 Battalion that fought in WWII.
What does a typical weekend look like for you?
That’s a hard question and one that is season and month-dependent. It’s either spending time with my son, taking him to Little Athletics or footy.
Horse riding with my daughter at home or at Pony Club, spending time in the garden, catching up on emails, or working with my husband to finish our house renovations, but a nanna nap on Sunday afternoon is always planned!
What is your idea of a holiday?
Being a busy person, I enjoy a holiday that has a balanced mix of both down time and active time. I enjoy sitting and reading a book, having afternoon naps, but I also enjoy being active, exploring the outdoors and getting dirty!
Most of all I enjoy having time away from our ‘everyday’ home life routine and spending it focussed on my family.
Who inspires you?
Many people near and afar. Lately I enjoy watching, listening to and learning from a myriad of world leaders, as well ordinary people who tell the stories that have made them who they are today.
Not all are easy to tell or listen to, but I am so inspired by how people, given time, overcome adversity by getting up after being knocked down, roll up their sleeves and just get on with it.
Life is short – be kind and tell those special people you love them, take that dream trip and every now and then stop, look back on what you have achieved in life and give yourself a pat on your back.
We can’t rely on others to acknowledge what we do, it’s ok to say “wow, I did a good job at that, given what I had to work with or under the circumstances”. Don’t ever forget how amazing you are!
Ooh….. I am also inspired by Justin Trudeau (don’t tell my husband but I have a little crush on the Canadian Prime Minister!)
Text & Images ©COPYRIGHT 2017 Kinglake Ranges News.
With Murrindindi Shire Council.
