My Story

MITCHAM COUNCIL

For the past three years I have been privileged to serve as the Mayor of Mitcham. During this time I have devoted much effort to uniting a previously divided chamber. Together we have made some incredible decisions including giving approval for the long awaited Blackwood library/community hub, the most generous rate relief in SA for Covid-19 affected businesses and ratepayers, and a soon to be considered Australian first city-wide community solar plan - available to all businesses and residents. Through careful and prudent financial management I am very proud that the current council has achieved so much while maintaining lower council rate rises, on average, than the previous two councils.

When I stood for council the issues that were important to me where transparency and accountability, better services, increased sustainability, and creating a positive reputation for council in the community. Our council has delivered on all of these fronts. Transparency and accountability of elected member decisions has been increased as we now record council meetings so that residents can hear how their elected members spoke as well as how they voted. Additionally I have been available for 3 hours every week at my “Share with the Mayor” sessions, so that anyone in the community can access me. I am arguably the most accessible mayor in the state :)

Our decision to build the long awaited Blackwood library and community centre will change the face of the Blackwood precinct. We believe it, along with our substantial investment into the land behind Drakes, where new shops and a huge pedestrian walkway will be built, will be the catalyst for the reinvigoration of the area. The newly renovated Mitcham Library and Brownhill Creek reserve has added a new level of vibrancy to the Mitcham precinct and we are sure that the Blackwood Hub project will be similarly impressive.

The declaration of a climate emergency was a turning point for council. This allowed the administration to rethink all of our business as usual services through a climate change lens. The outcome has been a dramatic change to the way we think about all of our assets, footpaths, roads, trees, storm water, power usage, transport and much more. We are planting more trees, using permeable footpaths and harvesting rainwater to water these trees (which, incidentally, encourages deep root growth, meaning less damage to our footpaths and kerbs). We’ve added recycled content to our road surfaces making them more flexible and less noisy. We’ve changed most of our lights to LED which is saving you thousands of dollars, were changing the vehicle fleet to 100% electric which saves money on fuel and we’ve installed several electric charging stations to encourage visitors to the city to recharge while they shop. However, the project which has the potential to provide substantial savings to every MItcham resident is our community solar plan. Currently a panel of staff and experts is analysing the expressions of interest received from potential partners to provide solar panels, batteries and lower power prices, to residents, businesses, landowners and tenants, at no up front cost. This will be an Australian first and has the potential to reduce the energy consumption of the council area by up to 50%. We have been described by the state’s chief entrepreneur as the council of innovation.

This is the type of approach I would like to see used by all councils, and am keen to see happening at a state level. But it can only occur when we move past party politics and infighting, and start determining and funding the best solutions for our State.

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 provide artists with exposure, regular customers with changing decor, and the business with new customers who come to see the art. 

I have learnt that when we work together with the community we create opportunities for everyone. I believe this extends to council, state government and indeed federal parliament. However, best outcomes require politicians who understand and are invested in their local communities, working for the people they represent, rather than big business, multinational corporations or campaign donations.

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 in 2011.  

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 our politicians have come to value the advice of experts. It is my hope that they 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 government 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 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 :)