Kentish is located in the central northern part of Tasmania, and is quite a mountainous municipality renowned for its beauty.
Cradle Mountain is our prime attraction, and one of the top attractions in Tasmania.
A joint project nearing completion will see a network of mountain bike trails, that will attract riders of all abilities to our region. The joint project, developed in conjunction with our neighbours Latrobe Council, roughly follows the path of the Mersey River. This world class trail network is aptly named “Wild Mersey”.
Kentish is known as Tasmania’s Outdoor Art Gallery. One of our major towns, Sheffield, was reinvigorated in the 1980s through the introduction of murals. The town has murals painted on many buildings which attract thousands of visitors per year.
Mount Roland is the mountain loved most by locals and is visible from many parts of the municipality. Visitors often assume it is Cradle Mountain.
Understanding the community
I was elected to Council in 2007 and have served most years since as Deputy Mayor. I was elected Mayor in 2018.
I work part time for Libraries Tasmania as a Library Services Officer. Working for the library over the years has helped me to better understand our community and has given me a profile in the community.
Our family has a small acreage which keeps me busy. Firewood heats our home, warms our water and cooks our food, so I seem to be forever cutting and stacking wood.
I have a beehive and enjoy interacting with the little creatures (mostly).
Amalgamation looms
At this stage, our community is quite settled. Council is financially solid; the councillors are working as a team and the community is being listened to.
Meanwhile, a key challenge facing ours and every other council in Tasmania is Local Government Reform (at least amalgamation). The push for reform will be very disruptive for residents and Council over the next five years.
Kentish and Latrobe Councils have been resource sharing successfully over several years. The councils have improved efficiencies and service levels while continuing to preserve and retain local decision making. The sharing arrangement has been built around high degrees of trust, supported by a formal agreement. Both Latrobe and Kentish councils share the same general manager and most staff work between both councils.
Growing more beautiful
A small but important project that I have initiated has been the introduction of tree planting in our two largest towns. I am sure as the years progress the towns will become more beautiful. After visiting Young in New South Wales (where I grew up) I was reminded of all the trees growing in nature strips. I wanted our towns here in Kentish to have the same.
I have learned to listen
I enjoy seeing ideas become realities in the area where I live. Our decisions, good or bad, will play out in plain view.
Being a councillor has helped me develop as an adult. I have learned to listen to people, be slow to speak and consider opposing views. Good life skills I think.
I like being part of a team, lone ranger councillors will rarely have the support to achieve much.
There are costs
It can be hard for my family. A trip to the supermarket can take a long time as people want to talk about local topics of interest. I recently took two of my boys mountain bike riding and hadn’t left the carpark before being accosted over a problem. Sometimes I need to leave the municipality to escape. It is a very difficult role to turn off from mentally.
To attend some Council functions I need to take Recreational Leave or Leave Without Pay from my employment. Either my family or my pay packet miss out.
Big things coming
Kentish has had a decade of financial surpluses which is a great improvement on its past. My goal is to continue to lead a well-functioning council that is listening to our residents.
Lake Cethana (within Kentish) has been chosen as the first proposed Pumped Hydro project in Tasmania and if built will bring huge economic activity in our area. As Mayor, I want to guide our community through this time of increased activity and change.
