Q. How long have you been on Council?
I was first elected to the then Jabiru Town Council in 2006. Following amalgamations last year, I was re-elected for a four year term on the new West Arnhem Shire Council.
Q. Why did you become involved in Local Government?
I was involved in several community committees and saw this as an opportunity to get things happening in the Shire and make a difference for the community.
Q. Tell us about your Local Government area.
Located approximately 260 kilometres east of Darwin, West Arnhem Shire covers just under 50,000 square kilometres and has a population of 6,500 people.
The main township of Jabiru is a mining town that was established in the 1970s.
As the only Australian town set inside a national park (Kakadu National Park), Jabiru is the park’s main service area, offering a range of accommodation and facilities.
We are extremely lucky to be living and working in such a beautiful part of Australia, where there is great diversity of people and landscapes. Having grown up and worked in the Territory all my life, I am enjoying working in the now expanded Shire boundaries, exploring Indigenous wards and meeting people from a broad range of backgrounds.
Q. What key challenges are currently facing outback councils?
As a result of reforms last year, West Arnhem Shire includes a large area of previously unincorporated land, including Cobourg Peninsular National Park, Kakadu National Park, Ranger Uranium Mine and Arnhem Land Trust areas. These changes mean that large parts of the Shire are starting to receive better Local Government services for the first time. Council has embarked on an ambitious staged program that will roll out these services over several years.
Perhaps the biggest challenge in this area is bringing infrastructure and services in Indigenous communities up to the same standard as those in mainstream Australia.
Q. What is the most difficult part of your role?
Due to the vast area West Arnhem covers, it is difficult to get out and talk to all our residents. The distance, combined with working a full time job, also means that we can work a lot of late nights and weekends. However, I enjoy the interaction and feedback we get from our remote communities, and although we put a lot in, we get back what we put out tenfold.
They say that behind every good man is a good woman, but in my case this is the opposite way around. I could never achieve what I do and be able to maintain the balance between my role as a Councillor and my job without the support of my husband.
Q. What issues are important to you?
Equality of service for Indigenous people and adequate government funding to support employment in remote areas.
Q. What has been your greatest achievement on Council?
While serving as a Councillor on the Jabiru Town Council, Council improved our rubbish tip. The rubbish tip was in a terrible state and Council improved the dump considerably with containment fences and by providing recycling services in the middle of a national park.
Since being elected as a Councillor in October 2006, I have gone on to represent the residents (especially women) of the West Arnhem region on the following:
- Australian Local Government Women’s Association – NT
Branch - West Arnhem Shire Transitional Committee, contributing to
the amalgamations of five Local Governments for the last
year to become West Arnhem Shire Council - Local Government Association of the Northern Territory
Executive.
Q. What lasting impression do you hope to have on your community?
I want to improve the quality of life for our remote communities to the same standards as those of mainstream Australia.
