This is your chance to speak up about current issues affecting your council. Please forward your letters to editorial@lgfocus.com.au
Dear LG Focus,
I write to you this morning with the background noise of the issues at the Geelong Council across the airwaves. The barrage of criticism of councils and councillors just keeps coming.
It was encouraging to read, over the corn flakes, your LG Focus Newspaper.
Particularly the stories from the two featured mayors in your Councillor Profiles.
It reminded me of how most of us put our hand up for local council for fundamental ‘right’ reasons and that we try to give it our best shot. Most of us have families (parents and children) that deserve our attention, we have hobbies and pastimes to create a sometimes much-needed distraction, and we have personal goals that we would like to ‘kick’ while serving in the ‘big house’.
Some of the most valuable time at some of the conferences/summits/assemblies I have attended is the opportunity just to meet other councillors and chat about their councillor journey.
Despite all the big bickies spent on high profile ‘in the know’ guest speakers at these gigs, sometimes the sharing in small groups can be where we learn the most.
I do wonder if conference organisers need to allow a session or two, in groups of 5-10, for Councillors just to interact in ‘how is your patch?’ informal discussion.
With the [Victorian] local government elections coming in a few months time and many of us in the space of deciding whether to run again, some of the best encouragement for people to stand for their community is the reminder that, despite the frustrations and challenges, it remains a positive pathway to “do yourself a favour” and improve your community.
Regards,
Councillor Mark Radford
Horsham Rural City Council
