Q. How long have you been on Council?
I was first elected in 2003, and was re-elected in both 2006 and 2010. It is most satisfying to see the results of many discussions and debates become real.
I come from a rural background where family, education, cultural activities, excellent food and activities leading to good health were major influences, along with a strong belief in participating in and contributing to the community.
Q. Why did you become involved in Local Government?
My family has no background in Local Government, so local issues were the driving force leading to my involvement – first as a community activist, and now as a Councillor.
In the early part of this century, there were local pressures to sell open space and to privatise community facilities, and this introduced me to local politics. The lack of facilities for disabled children, and money spent on playgrounds that were meant to suit them but were inadequate was another driving factor. I had acted as a community representative in developing inclusive, accessible playgrounds in other councils and saw that my own Council needed the same kind of advice to provide for the community.
I was working full time with young children, one who is multiply disabled and requires a lot of care, and aging parents, but my husband and children offered strong support. Others in the wider community encouraged me and provided guidance. So I stood for election, the residents supported me and I was motivated by achievements to juggle all of my various roles. I have never been so organised.
Q. What makes Campbelltown special or different?
There are wonderful areas where creatures such as possums, koalas and echidnas can be seen, but we are still only a few minutes from Adelaide city. We have majestic red and blue gum trees that are hundreds of years old along Linear Park, which borders the Torrens River.
The O’Bahn system of public transport cuts through the park for a scenic ride to the city for commuters and tourists every day. An O’Bahn is unique and offers the flexibility of a bus system combined with the speed of a railway.
Along the Linear Park is an environmental village at Lochiel Park, the place where Campbelltown was first settled by Charles Campbell in 1842, and who was the first market gardener – a tradition that continues in odd pockets around the City.
Q. You have a passion for protecting and improving local parks. Tell us about that and what you have achieved.
When I joined Council there were many local parks that were mere open spaces and rarely used by more than hoons in cars who wanted to create doughnuts on the grass, or for a few residents who kicked the occasional football.
As the region increasingly develops, with single houses being knocked down and replaced with two and three, it has become clear that children and adults need far better public play spaces. Each of the parks I have been involved with has different features, but they are all similar as they provide a range of physical activities, opportunity for imaginative play and a natural setting where the various parrots, herons, magpies and other birds native to the area can be found.
My vision for each park is to create a facility where no matter what age, physical ability or gender, there are activities so families can spend fun times together and all be involved in exercise whether sports minded or not. The success is demonstrated by the number of people who can be found there at all times of the day.
Q. What other issues are important to you?
My goals are to make the community culturally stronger, our roads safer, and to reduce crime. I also want to provide a rich environment where everyone no matter their background or interest can find challenges and interest. I value a rich environment where nature is an integral part of people’s lives.
I am eclectic in my interests and have worked towards better recognition of our war veterans through a Remembrance pathway, working for a modern library, working towards a new leisure centre with a wide range of activities, maintaining the clean, green aspect of the City while understanding that development is inevitable and needs creative solutions.
Q. Tell us about a memorable moment on council?
In 2008 I proposed a literary competition as a way of capturing and recording stories about Campbelltown. It was such a success that it has now become an annual event. Last year’s winner was a story that raised the hair on the back of my neck because of its power, elegance and harsh truth. It was one of many that tells us more about Campbelltown. The stories can be found at www.campbelltown.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=1999
The pleasure in seeing the effective work and creative ideas of Council has been a wonderful reward for my time and effort in being an elected member.
Councillor Bruce Preece, City of Prospect, South Australia
Q. How long have you been on Council?
I have been on council for four years and have just been overwhelmingly re-elected for a second four year term. Even though there were 14 other candidates standing against me, there were only two of us who got more than enough quotas.
Q. Why did you become involved in Local Government?
I became involved in Local Government by chance. I was over at my elderly neighbours place sitting on the front porch talking, and they said how they found it hard to get Council to do things. After some discussion, they said, ‘why don’t you run?’ and the rest is history.
Q. One of your election promises was to revert the voting system to a ward based system. Why is this important to you?
During the previous term of Council, it was decided that wards would be abolished, even though there was a big petition from local residents to keep the ward system and the same number of councillors. During my campaign, a big proportion of residents approached me and several other candidates saying that they wanted to know who there local councillor was, and wanted the ward system back in place. Over the next couple of years, I will work with my fellow councillors to have the ward system returned.
Q. Tell us about a specific success you have had in Local Government.
One of my successes as a councillor was to have a community garden established, as we only had a very small plot that was being used by a local school. I began looking into various sites in Prospect and found a disused Council plot of land that was once used as a nursery.
After some discussion and support from my fellow ward councillor, I decided to move a motion in Council to have this turned into a community garden. With much joy, it was voted in.
There is a local group of people who has come on board called PREFER. There is still a lot of hard work to do, but in the end, it will be worth it. I am hopeful that we can get the City’s residents with mental illnesses involved, as in the past, there has been a lack of recreational activities specifically for them, and I believe this could help with their mental wellbeing.
I also want to get local schools involved.
Q. What innovative projects is Council working on?
As a council, we decided to change the way we collected household rubbish to reduce what was going to our local landfill. We have moved to a three bin waste collection system, with one green waste bin collected fortnightly, as well as one recycle and one rubbish bin collected weekly.
To date, this has been very successful. So far we have noticed a big drop in rubbish going into landfill, thus helping to reduce greenhouse gas, and in the end, help reduce cost to our ratepayers.
