Susanna Freymark
William Drew is known around the area as ‘Scrappy Bill’ because of the scrap metal business he has run for years, he said.
Mr Drew, a proud Bundjalung man, is the only ungrouped candidate in the Richmond Valley Council Election. This means if you want to vote for him, you must vote below the line as he is not on a ticket.
“I’m not afraid to stand alone,” he said.
“I will use my voice to raise issues.”
Mr Drew has been at all the candidate forums – Woodburn, Casino, Evans Head – and each time he has spoken about his drive for more to be done for youth in the region.
He suggested movie nights and cultural trips for young people.
“Services for youth have been neglected. I want to build safe communities,” he said.
Mr Drew said he is an official visitor to Grafton Gaol. He was born at Coraki Campbell Hospital and grew up at Box Ridge at Coraki. He is on the board of the Men’s Tribal Council for Bundjalung Nation, based out of Casino.
“I may only be one vote (on council) but I’ll be a thorn in these guys’ side,” he said as he pointed to the other candidates on the stage at the Woodburn Meet the Candidates forum.
Mr Drew has stated at the public forums that he does not approve of an incinerator or the Iron Gates development.
He said his environmental recycling business is good for the region and he works in the business with his grandchildren.
“We need to come together as a community,” he said.
“Not just up the river or down the river. I want to bring people together as one people.”
Read all stories about the Richmond Valley Election here. Ballot papers are here also.
and then