A former MP who inspired dozens of independent candidates to stand for parliament shared her story to Drouin locals earlier this month.
Hosted by Voices for Monash on Thursday 21 March at Middels in Drouin, the event featured community advocate and former independent MP for Indi Cathy McGowan AO as the guest speaker, as she shared stories and details from her two successful campaigns and time in Canberra over the journey to now, where she travels the country connecting with local communities who want better political representation.
A proud ‘dairy farmer’s daughter’, she described her journey growing up in the country and how dairy co-ops worked for the farmers and locals rather than concentrating resources and power in Melbourne and Sydney, likening the duopoly in politics between the Liberals/Nationals coalition and Labor to the supermarket power of Coles and Woolworths.
Ms McGowan said as an independent, the community shaped her policies and achievements, from building more mobile phone towers in the many blackspots, to implementing better mental health facilities in rural towns, to improving transport across the electorate.
She said the community had a vital role to play in achieving better representation.
“Only doing the work will community representation come to be,” Ms McGowan said.
Former independent Monash candidate in the 2022 federal election Deb Leonard was the host of the evening and advocated for locals to join Voices for Monash’s push to increase community engagement and ensure they are listening to the voices of all communities across the electorate to determine how they want to be represented.
“We need more of you involved,” she said.
“If you’re interested in mobilising and have a skill set, resources and networks then please connect with Voices for Monash via our website and social channels.”
For more information, visit voicesformonash.org
