Standing for Council?

We really need to get younger people involved in local government. Those attending the Leeuwin Ward Planning Day in 2011 were inspired by Cr Kim Peterson, a young mother, who was really making a difference in her community at Jarradale. That day launched Belinda Robinson’s journey towards the development of a Community Hub that is currently under design for Augusta. I’m certain that Kim’s passion, enthusiasm, and active participation in Jarrahdale added fuel to the spark we had already seen in Belinda.

I am always happy to work for my community, and believe passionately that residents must shape and influence the development of their social, economic, and physical environment. Self-determination is essential for a healthy and happy community. Most significant decisions will influence how we live here well into the future and that’s why we need the young involved. They will be in their acquisitive phase of life then and they need a strong local economy to generate sufficient funds for whatever it is they aspire to achieve. And maybe they will have dreams for their children too, and even if we all know doesn’t work out just how parents want we still must allow them to try and secure a good future for their families.

The men and women who carved this landscape from virgin forest were young. They had spent years in the trenches of Europe during WWI, or more widely dispersed around the world fighting for democracy in WWII. They didn’t have an easy life, but even as they laboured to clear paddocks and build shelters, working towards economic viability, they gave some time to their community. Looking at the old record books it is amazing just how high up on their list of priorities was the need for involvement in community decision making, at all levels. Maybe they valued democracy because they fought for it, had seen their comrades give their lives for it. The WWII soldier settlers had seen the birth of the declaration of human rights in 1947. That generation witnessed the world recognise, for the first time, that oppression and cruelty towards any people, any level of society, must not be tolerated. Since those days of triumph democracy has gradually been eroded within this shire, and most residents haven’t even noticed the loss.

My dream team for Council would have an average age of 30 years, made up of people in their 20s to early 50s. But these people might welcome some mentoring and that could be a role where my skills and talents could have value.

Every councillor needs to have a support team, and if the councillor doesn’t want to be a team player then maybe they aren’t well suited to being a representative of the people?

If there are any young people reading this but wanting to be excused from any responsibility to serve then please read this little piece, written by the support team for the late Jim Wilson at the time of local elections 1960;

“In the likely event of at least three candidates contesting the extraordinary election for the Karridale Ward to be held on Saturday 3^rd September it seems certain that more than usual interest will be taken by Karridale Ward ratepayers.

Mr J D Wilson, of Kudardup, who is well known in the area, is one of those who has nominated, but for the benefit of a few ratepayers who are not personally acquainted with him the following brief pen picture may be of use in determining his suitability.

Jim Wilson arrived in the district 15 years ago, at the age of 23, and commenced developing and farming what was then an abandoned Group Settlement property. It is now a successful and flourishing concern.

For approximately four years prior to arriving in the area he was a member of the R.A.A.F. having done a tour of operations in the European Theatre with Bomber Command as a commissioned navigator.

In the field of local organisations Jim has held office for a number of terms as Secretary and President respectively of the local branch of the Farmers Union. He has also been President for two terms of the Karridale-Augusta sub-branch of the R.S.L.

At present he is an active member of the above mentioned organisations as well as the Kudardup Bush Fire Brigade and a Vice-President of the Karridale Football Club. Much of the inspiration, planning, and work of fund raising for the improvement of the Augusta War Memorial has come from him.

At the invitation of the Karridale Progress Association president Jim Wilson will address that body next Thursday on aspects of his attitude towards local affairs. Apart from that his campaign will take the form of personal interview with as many ratepayers as possible his main request being that they make a determined effort to vote.

He has a wife and four children.”

(photos added)

Jim was a great character and when he arrived in Kudardup immediately after the war he had no vehicle but a motorcycle. He fenced the farm by carrying the jarrah fence posts on his back.

His pen picture is so different to the biographies of candidates today, but if a man who had given his youth in the service of his country could find the time to serve community groups, raise a family, and still seek public office then I reckon many of us who think we don’t have the time must just need to acquire some time management skills and nudge the exercising of our democratic rights up our list of priorities.

A good candidate doesn’t need to be a business person, but they need to have passion and enthusiasm for what might at times seem to be a thankless task. They must be ready to ask “Why?” and to keep on asking until they hear a plausible answer.