My Story

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Since 2018 I have been privileged to serve as the Mayor of Mitcham. It has been both a challenging and an immensely rewarding adventure. I have had the opportunity to hear from, meet, and get to know many residents and business owners. People’s differing experiences mean they bring a range of perspectives to the same issue, and understanding those perspectives is an important part of representing a whole community. My role involves working with councillors, the CEO and staff to balance community ambitions and expectations with the financial, structural and legislative capacity of council.

My experience in science, business and community involvement has proved useful in ways I could not have anticipated and I thoroughly enjoy the role. I have been honoured to preside over citizenship ceremonies, host primary school civics sessions, open and/or attend community celebrations, exhibitions, school events and gatherings of our many sporting, service and volunteer organisations. These occasions provide a wonderful insight into the importance of being part of a community, and the work people do, often quietly and over many years, for the benefit of others.

More recently my role has also taken me beyond Mitcham. For several years now I have represented southern metropolitan councils on the Greater Adelaide Regional Organisation of Councils (GAROC), an elected advisory commitee to the Local Government Association (LGASA) Board. I am the local government representative of the Australia Day Council SA Board, Chair of the SA Dog and Cat Management Board, and in November 2024 was elected as President of the LGASA for a two year term. It has been an honour, in addition to my Mayoral role, to represent and lead the 68 councils of South Australia.

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These responsibilities have broadened my understanding of local government and beyond, given me opportunities to contribute to regional and national decisions and advocacy, and given Mitcham a voice at a state and federal level.

I’m always pleased when I am invited to speak at universities, conferences and community events, sharing my experience in science, business, community and local government. I enjoy the exchange of ideas these occasions allow, particularly when a conversation leads to a new connection or an opportunity to work together.

Serving as Mayor continues to be a pleasure which has deepened both my knowledge of Mitcham and my appreciation of the responsibility that comes with representing it. I hope to have the opportunity to continue serving our community, should you choose to entrust me with another term as Mayor.

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BUSINESS

My husband and I are very proud to be have been the owners of The Artisan Cafe, a cafe/restaurant business in the heart of the Blackwood shopping precinct, which we created and nurtured for ten years. Over that time we worked incredibly hard to provide a relaxed, welcoming, inspiring space, that many described as the hub of the community. We built up a wonderful, loyal and eclectic customer base, and gained a noteworthy reputation for delicious, handcrafted food and beverages. Our efforts were ultimately recognised when we were awarded the Australian National Cafe of the Year in 2017 by the Restaurant and Catering Assoc. of Australia. This public acknowledgment of excellence was a simultaneously proud and humbling moment, and an amazing outcome for our first small business endeavour.

I believe our success was based in the strength of our commitment to our vision. Our business plan was simple: to use fresh, seasonal, locally sourced ingredients to produce delicious, high quality food and beverages, handcrafted on site, using traditional methods. This was to be served by friendly, well informed staff, and priced reasonably so as to allow good food to be accessible to as many people as possible. It was vitally important that our business practices were as ethical and sustainable as possible.  Examples of these practices are; using only free-range animal products, separating, composting and recycling waste, using responsible packaging (long before these practices were on trend!), treating our staff and customers with courtesy and respect, and choosing the companies we do business with based on their commitment to similar ideals .

Our vision became a reality that was embraced by the community, who in turn suggested ways in which we could become more involved in the community. Some of the ideas which we implemented were: exhibiting the work of local artists, showcasing local musicians, hosting food-swaps, poetry evenings, book launches, exhibition openings and making the space available for other community events.  Through these community interactions, everybody wins. An example is the monthly art exhibitions which provided artists with exposure, regular customers with changing decor, and the business with new customers who came to see the art. 

I have learnt that when we work together as a community we create opportunities for everyone. I believe this extends across council, through businesses, schools, service and volunteer groups and sporting clubs. Council’s Mitcham Memorial Library refurbishment and Brownhill Creek precinct upgrade, funding of the brand new Blackwood Library/Community Centre and associated Waite Street Reserve and Young Street precinct upgrades, and recent property purchase to establish a Pasadena Community Centre, are prime examples of this council’s commitment to building a strong, connected and resilient community. My commitment is to ensure that council continues to invest in place and space making projects to activate and revitalise our precincts.

SCIENCE

Prior to my foray into entrepreneurship I was a research scientist at Flinders University where I spent many years using lasers to study collisions between small molecules - it's much more interesting than it sounds!

When my children were quite young I became a single parent and returned to study to try and provide us with a more secure future.  I fell in love with chemistry and just kept studying - ordinary degree, Honours and finally a PhD - hence Dr Heather.  

Along the way I came to realise how very important education is. Becoming more educated changes lives, builds knowledge, self esteem and connectivity.  My training as a scientist has given me a skill set which includes leadership, problem solving, decision making, teaching and effective communication. I understand the importance of research, collaboration, and seeking out expertise - skills which have proved invaluable to me in the position of mayor.

During the pandemic we came to value the advice of experts. It is my hope that we will continue to make decisions based on data and evidence, and expand this practise from public health decisions to all areas of policy. I want to be part of a council that discusses facts, not hearsay, and makes decisions based on knowledge, not fear and innuendo.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Totally Locally is an idea which I introduced to the local, independent businesses of Blackwood and the surrounding suburbs in 2015. The Blackwood shopping precinct has suffered from a lack of vision, cohesiveness and care for some time, which has resulted in a lack of community pride and patronage of the area.  The Totally Locally Blackwood shop local campaign and social inclusion movement works to reverse this trend by helping people rediscover the great things about their neighbourhood.  Totally Locally Blackwood has drawn our local businesses together.  Our local shop owners continue to work together to improve our precinct.  

To launch our campaign, we held the Blackwood Discovery Trail, a day designed to unite business and residents though showcasing all the great businesses in our local area.  Locals were treated to freebies, special deals, music, and workshops from participating shops and businesses.  The community have been delighted and very supportive, and we were commended for our efforts in state parliament by our local MP, Sam Duluk.

Through the Totally Locally Blackwood movement I have witnessed the power of businesses and community working together in creating pride, trust and goodwill within the community. It is my vision to see similar relationships blossom far and wide, throughout the state.

I am concerned about the future of many of our state’s small to medium local, independent businesses, particularly as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic. These businesses drive our economy, employ local people and are more likely to maintain staff during a downturn, and yet are faced with numerous disadvantages when competing with large multinational players. If we value the strength and uniqueness of our small businesses, going forward we need government action to give support, reduce red tape, and provide an even playing field, for them to thrive.

FAMILY

My father and mother, Max and Anne, grew up in Melrose Park (formerly Edwardstown) and Westbourne Park, respectively. My grandmother, Mrs Beryl Hunwick, was a teacher at Colonel Light Gardens School for many years. My grandfather was the renowned rose specialist Mr Alex Ross, whose rose nursery business was located on Edwards Street, Edwardstown. The Alexander Ross Reserve, Mead Crescent, Melrose Park was named in his honour by the Mitcham Council in 1994. I also have links to former SA Premiers through my grandmother Annie Ross (nee Playford), who was a cousin of Sir Thomas IV and granddaughter of the Hon Thomas Playford II.

I was born at Kingswood Private Hospital (Malvern SA) in 1964 and brought home to my parents’ new house on Old Belair Road, Belair.  I was baptised at Belair Uniting Church, but family folklore has it that my father left the service mid way because there was a fire which he had to attend as a member of the Belair CFS.   

Nearly sixty years on, my mother still lives locally, and my sister lives in the original family home.  My husband, Jonathan, and I live in Bellevue Heights. Jon and I are a blended family, brought together by our children attending the same local schools.  We are now empty nesters and besotted grandparents, recently welcoming our second grandchild.