Susanna Freymark
Kyogle residents, you’re about to pick your new councillors. Tomorrow, Saturday, September 14 it is time to vote.
Voting is compulsory. If you don’t vote, you could be fined $55.
Information about candidates and what the ballot and referendum papers will look like are here.
A map of where to vote is here.
IndyNR.com offered all candidates a final 50 words for voters. This was the question:
As residents go to vote what would you like them to think about? Maybe they’ve made their mind up already. Maybe they’re still deciding. If you could speak directly to each one of them, what would you ask them to consider before they choose who to vote for?
Danielle Mulholland: What do the candidates stand for, what are they’re promising and how they are going to do it? How will they engage with the communities they represent? Choose candidates who can work with others in a team and who you feel comfortable talking to about your issues. Who has leadership qualities and is invested in your vision for your community?
Janet Wilson: I’m asking voters to think about leadership and independent decision-making. Leadership provides all of us with examples of a way forward in difficult times as well as good times. Leadership shines a light on the best of what we have to offer each other, encouraging us to do our best for ourselves and our neighbours.
Simon Dejoux: I’d like people to think about the kind of council they want and the kind of people they’d like to represent them. Their choices become a reflection of their community. I’d like them to think about the need for a council where openness, transparency, integrity and honesty really mean something.
Glenn Robinson:
● Are you really happy with the people that are standing from the last council, to re-elect?
● Did they improve or try to carry through the projects they were expected to?
● Could some new people and ideas refresh this council to function better?
Robin Harley: In consideration of asking for your vote on Saturday,I would ask you to place your trust in my being a part of a Council, pro-active and moving forward. As a small shire, we can’t endure another term of fracture, disunity and disrespect. We must come together, we must unite for the Kyogle LGA to ensure it moves forward.
Naomi Worrall: The people of Kyogle come from many different backgrounds and our council should be a reflection of the communities it represents. My unique skillset offers broad community sector experience, an understanding of good governance, and a passion for our natural and cultural heritage. Together, we can reclaim our council.
Brett McNamara: Tomorrow’s Kyogle is calling today. Let’s move forward. Let’s embrace the opportunities for a better Kyogle. Council in tuned with community needs, reflecting values of transparency, accountability. With care and compassion, delivering better service’s to our community. Vote for renewal, re-energising tomorrow’s Council. Vote 1 Brett McNamara, a fresh perspective.
Earle Grundy: I’d like you to remember all the progressive things that happened in 2016-21. Turmoil in council in the last 2.5 years has led to a dysfunctional culture. For the last 9 months there has been no GM and no direction. I urge you to vote for me – I can do a lot to stabilise council.
John Burley: A council that has stability and does not divide community to improve rural roads quality that will last support tourism, our towns and villages appearances and sewerage and water projects, Health and Wellbeing Hub, Toonumbar dam retreat completion and a focus on agriculture, primary industry koala and native species with respect to climate change.
Robert Cullen: I’m genuinely active in the community, trying to improve the facilities and lives of the people. I’d like a second term to continue the great work of the council. I want to serve my wonderful Kyogle community. I’d like to improve roads and speed up DAs for ordinary people.
Ian Murrell: How do you select an honest candidate? An honest person will say that they are honest, but so will a dishonest one. If you judge them by what they do, how can you assess the people you haven’t seen? I’m not sure I know who to vote for either.
Kieran Somerville: Embracing diversity opens up opportunity. This gives us capacity to change, evolve and develop to create more stability now and in the future. Think as an individual, vote for community. Communication and sharing of knowledge between agriculture, business, arts and culture will enrich the patch of earth we call home.
Olivia Taylor: Who is best equipped to bring our town forward? The balance must be found between newcomers and families who have been here forever. Our town must move forward whilst honouring history. My heart is in the right place. I would come to the position of councillor with a servant heart.
James Murray: There is nothing more important than serving one’s community and I am proud of my achievements. In the next term, I wish to encourage growth of our agricultural, forestry, tourism and business through more efficient use of council funds to improve infrastructure and provide better liveability for the residents of Kyogle LGA.
Tom Cooper:
I’m not a green and I’m not a brown
I’m just a person who cares, from your hometown.
I’ve seen the children, with nothing to eat
And I’ve cursed the potholes in our Main Street.
Another bank closure, to our despair!
It’s all economics, they really don’t care.
Remember, remember, it’s profit at all cost.
What does it matter if another family is gone,
A community lost And it’s a sad sight, that ever I’ve seen,
Another shop closed – they’ve lost their dream
But it’s not your fault and it’s not your failure,
It’s just another loss for rural Australia.
So – it’s for the people I’ll fight & the people I’ll try,
For I’m not prepared to kiss Australia – Goodbye.
Oh – I’m not a green and I’m not a brown,
I’m just a person who cares, from your hometown.
(Mr Cooper wrote this poem and we allowed him more than 50 words because it’s a poem.)
