BASS Coast Shire Council election candidate nominations close at 12 noon on Tuesday, September 17 but there’s already a “cast of thousands” in the running for the Bunurong Ward alone.
Actually, it’s seven candidates who’ve nominated for Bunurong so far, but you get the idea.
They are Meg Edwards, Leticia Laing, Mat Morgan, Caitlyn Robertson, Brian Robinson, Pru Scholtes and Brett Tessari all of whom have thrown their hats into the ring and there may be others by the close of nominations on Tuesday.
The latest person to announce her candidature in Bunurong is Inverloch resident and vice president of the Inverloch School Council Caitlyn Robertson.
A Senior Policy and Research Officer at Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, the peak body for child and family services in Victoria, she has a special interest in this area, however, after moving to Inverloch to work during COVID she’s found this area to be the perfect place to raise a family.
“Mum’s family is from the Korumburra area so we’ve always come down here, but it was during COVID, when I got the chance to work from home that we decided to make the move. It’s been great.”
As well as the school council, Caitlyn has become involved in the Cape Paterson Surf Lifesaving Club, where they first settled, as a parent participant and generally immersed herself in the community as much as she can.
In a statement she released this week, Caitlyn said she has “proudly announced she is standing for the upcoming Bass Coast Council election, committing to increasing road maintenance funding, improving services for children and families, and protecting the natural environment that makes the Bass Coast so special.”
The statement continues: Caitlyn is standing for the Bunurong Ward of the Bass Coast Shire Council, and wants to make sure the people of Inverloch and surrounds have a strong voice to advocate for them on their council. As a local Mum who is living, working and raising her daughter on Bunurong Land in Inverloch, Caitlyn is passionate about ensuring children, young people, families, and seniors have improved access to all the services and supports they need. Caitlyn is an active volunteer in the local school council and other community groups, and works in the not-for-profit sector advising government on the needs of children and families.
Roads across the Bass Coast Council, she says, have been unsafe, maternal and child health services are not meeting the needs of the growing Bass Coast community, and many families are finding it hard to access the services they need. Coastal erosion is putting community infrastructure at risk, including the Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club.
Caitlyn says she is committed to working with the state government to find a long-term solution to protect the club and protect our natural environment for future generations.
And she says she is a passionate member of this community, and wants to help make it as great as we all know it can be.
“I love living here on the Bass Coast, but we deserve safer roads, more services that families need right here in Inverloch - like access to maternal and child health, and mental health services, and more access to quality, affordable childcare for all families,” said Caitlyn while announcing her nomination this week.
“I am running on a commitment to increase road maintenance funding, improve health and childcare services for families, and save the Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club from coastal erosion.
“Inverloch can’t go another four years without a seat at the table - and if elected I will ensure Inverloch and every community on the Bass Coast is heard.”