When Councillor Stephanie Penn was elected to represent the Shire of Victoria Plains three years ago, the Council had gone 14 years without a female voice at the decision-making table.
The Shire of about 1000 people is located in the wheat belt region of Western Australia, about 160 kilometres north of Perth. As well as its vast agricultural lands, the Shire is renowned for a historic monastic town situated in the middle of the municipality – the Benedictine Community at New Norcia – established by a group of Spanish monks in 1846.
Alongside her duties as Deputy President of the Shire, Cr Penn is also kept busy working alongside her husband to operate a wheat and sheep farm and as a mother to four teenagers.
Fellow Victoria Plains Councillor Jim Kelly nominated Cr Penn as a LG Focus High Achiever, citing Penn’s desire to always put the community first and her determination to follow correct Council processes.
“She’s very passionate and a stickler for procedure,” said Cr Kelly. “She has certainly raised our level at council and is passionate about her ward and council in general.”
Councillor Penn agreed she understands the importance of following correct council protocol.
She also told LG Focus she has encountered challenges as a woman in a public position in a male-dominated context.
“Being a woman, there are times that I have to present myself in a more forceful way than comes naturally, hence you get labelled by the male population as ‘the bitch on the council’.
“I have had a councillor say that he didn’t vote for me because I am a woman and farmers don’t want to see a female president.”
Cr Penn said it is important to provide a voice for women in the community, so they can feel properly represented.
“I have been told by some of the women in my ward that when I was elected it was the first time they had voted in a Shire election. I have also been told that I have given them a voice – fantastic considering some of these ladies are over 65.”
Since Cr Penn was elected, two more women have also joined Council.
She said community consultation is critical in her role as Councillor, and she endeavours to listen to constituents and ask questions like, “Is it what they want their rates spent on? Is it bang for buck? Are their concerns and ideas being considered?”
She said she has been part of wide-ranging projects in her time on Council.
“In my first year as a councillor, with the help of my mentor Councillor David Holmes, Bolgart CWA, and Bolgart Progress Association, the Shire put in seating and landscaped the Bolgart Cemetery.”
Ironically, when Cr Holmes passed away last year, he was buried in the Bolgart Cemetery, said Cr Penn.
A community car has also been introduced in the Shire at Cr Penn’s recommendation.
“Over cups of tea there was a suggestion that a community vehicle was needed so volunteer drivers could have access to a vehicle to take community members to doctor appointments, and my fellow councillors agreed.
Other highlights include: “With the 100-year commemorations of World War One, an ANZAC Day committee, appointment of a warden and revamp of the memorial gardens was an honour to be a part of.
“Just recently, I was troubled by the decline in volunteers to run the Australia Day Celebrations, and thankfully the rest of council agreed that a committee of council was needed.”
Some projects currently underway, or soon to begin, involve: “At present, with the help of my fellow South Ward Councillor, Neville Clarke, Industrial Blocks and Information Bay in the town of Bolgart; having the needs of the age group of 0 to 4 considered in the Shire Strategic Plan; and having the Lime sand route, 87km in Victoria Plains Shire, be recognised as a commodity route, (the drain on Shire coffers for the maintenance is debilitating for the whole Shire).”
Cr Penn said, overall, aspiring for good governance underpins her passion for being a councillor.
“My Dad once told me that you can’t change anything from the outside. I enjoy the difference you can make
to a community.”
