As we approach 18 months into the term of Council, I have reflected on my experience since the election in November 2022 and whether my expectations for the position are consistent with the reality. My reflections may have been prompted by discussions with my nine-year-old, who has been learning about democracy – specifically in local government – and what the role of councillor entails. They have been valuable conversations for both of us and certainly helps her to understand the nature of what I do on Tuesday nights and on other occasions during the week.

Our role as the representative for a specific ward and the function which this requires at council meetings is well understood, but the position is more comprehensive than this. I am also a member of several Council sub-committees, including the CEO Performance Review Committee, the Grants Committee and the Australia Day Awards Selection Committee, which don’t require us to perform the role as an advocate for a specific ward, but more broadly on behalf of the entire Mitcham community. As councillors, we attend functions in an official capacity -such as the upcoming events for ANZAC Day – and head along to informal get-togethers with residents at events such as Australia Day street parties. We respond to inquiries by email, phone call, text messages (social media ones too) and attend face-to-face meetings. These occasions to network and engage are an intrinsic part of our role as advocates for the community and ensure that we remain accountable to the community that endorsed us as their local councillor. In the coming months, Council will host ‘Community Conversations’, which will provide residents with another opportunity to engage with local councillors, in a revised format from the previous ‘ward forums’ – more to come on this soon!

Mortlock Park

Mortlock Park in Colonel Light Gardens is an exceptional open space, which is loved by the community for recreational use while also being used by the nearby schools and local sporting teams. Successive State and Federal Governments have committed funding towards the upgrade of the Gil Langley Building at the park, which has facilitated an extensive planning and consultation process that has spanned many years. In 2023, the Council received more than 630 responses to the YourSay consultation survey, with 63% of the responses from ‘nearby residents’ demonstrating a high level of engagement with the project.

I expect that the Council will make decisions about the future of Mortlock Park in late March, including the planned upgrade to the Gil Langley Building, the licence over the grassed areas, replacement of the oval lights and baseball infrastructure and the proposed demolition of the Guides Hall. This has been a complex project, which has taken a decade to come to fruition (and several terms of Council). Thank you to the residents and representatives of the sporting clubs who have engaged with me personally about this project. I am hopeful that the outcome will ensure that Mortlock Park continues to serve our community for many decades to come.

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