Mount Remarkable community
Mount Remarkable District Council is situated at the start of the southern Flinders Ranges and borders Spencer Gulf, covering 3,413 square kilometres of beautiful landscape.
The region has five main towns and some smaller townships with around 3,000 residents.
Our landscape is varied with coastline providing recreational fishing, including our famous Port Germein Jetty, once the longest in the Southern Hemisphere.
Predominate rural areas transverse both sides of the ranges, with pockets of horticulture, viticulture, two national parks, a commercial forest and gorges making up the area.
We also have a major machinery exporter within the district.
Country communities have a special vibe that I love, a connection quite often shown through sport.
The competition is there, but also that wonderful bond that country people have.
Women in local Government
I joined Council in 1997 after working in the community for 30 years in various roles, ranging from local sporting and social groups to the Progress Association.
My move and commitment to Council was the next step in giving back to the community.
Initially as a Councillor I never felt challenged from a female perspective.
However once being elected Mayor from an all male council, this did have its difficulties.
Managing the balance of your time for family, employment and the commitment to council is sometimes the hardest to get right.
I would like to see more females taking on roles as elected members.
For a very long time the public has accepted that certain roles belong to men, though thankfully this is changing.
Many women have not had the self-belief that they can contribute in a positive way, however they certainly can.
Rewards of Council
The rewarding side of Council is making decisions that you know can benefit the majority of our community.
Seeing these come to fruition, usually after a very long road, is just amazing.
Seeing the pride a project can deliver a township makes the hard work, and the sometime negative responses from a very small minority, so worthwhile.
It is all about consultation, engaging with the people and then putting those ideas to work.
However, I find one of the hardest aspects is getting people to want to contribute their opinions before a project or a change begins, instead of after the fact.
A major element to being a good councillor is being the best listener and ensuring you find the correct information and deliver the results, although unfortunately not always what the inquirer may want to hear.
I believe it is vital to be well prepared for all meetings and know your subject matter so you can always make informed decisions.
I continually articulate that open, honest transparency is the only way to engage with the public.
Keeping people well informed normally keeps them happy, and will help create a proud new image for a town.
Credibility and trust are very important if we are to advance the interests of local communities.
In the current economic climate, continued compliant requirements and the reduction of state and federal grants are creating extra financial pressure for councils, in particular small rural ones like Mount Remarkable.
Being able to meet the demands to sustain our infrastructure and continue to provide the quality services that we want to deliver, always tests the skills of the council to remain efficient and effective.
This is foremost to me as a Mayor.
I would dearly like to think when I leave the Council people can say I was instrumental in helping make the District Council of Mount Remarkable definitely the most remarkable, and our communities keen to continue striving for that benchmark of excellence and a quality lifestyle that others envy.
