Nikki Marshall

The” Chamber of Peoples-Hepburn”, emerged in 2024 out of “Community Voice”, a local group formed in the lead-up to the 2020 local government elections. Like Chambers of Commerce, which represent the interests of businesses, the Chamber of Peoples- Hepburn, has been formed as a voice for residents, with the intention of fostering collaborative and inclusive relationships between the Hepburn Shire community and Council, between and beyond elections.

The Chamber of Peoples- Hepburn is committed to transforming local governance in Hepburn Shire through participatory democracy as well as community engagement and empowerment. In addition, the Chamber of Peoples has scope to become an umbrella organisation making the many democratic community organisations within the Shire more visible to each other, as well as connecting and sharing strategies for democratic participation.

On Wednesday September 25th, the Chamber hosted a Meet the Candidates forum at Radius Gallery in Hepburn Springs, in preparation for the upcoming local government elections.

Seven of the twelve candidates were present. Four were new candidates: Benny Pettersson, Bernadette Winfield-Bray, Tony Clark and Derek Sedgman.  Three current councillors who are candiates,Tim Drylie, Lesley Hewitt and Brian Hood, also attended.

Candidates responded to the questions: What fires you up? What’s your dream? Who shapes Hepburn Shire’s future? These questions gave candidates the opportunity to talk about themselves, about the issues important to them, and to express their concerns.

Facilitated by Tammi Jonas, questions and concerns raised by community members focussed around community engagement, decision making, housing affordability, the divide between councillors, officers and the community, accessibility and inclusivity and the implications of changes to the ward system.

The session ended with informal conversations over a pot-luck supper and glasses of wine, an opportunity to build relationships between potential councillors and the community.

Glenlyon Meet the Candidates

A further Meet the Candidates session will be held in collaboration with Glenlyon Progress Association on Monday October 7th.  Community members are invited and encouraged to participate in the discussion.

Candidates are invited to focus on the following questions:

  • What attributes do you bring to Council?
  • How do you see Council and the community working together for the benefit of our shire, now and into the future?
  • What mechanisms would you initiate/support to ensure local knowledge and representation in council decision making, now that wards no longer exist?

Join the Chamber of Peoples- Hepburn and Glenlyon Progress Association on Monday 7 October @ 6.00pm for a prompt 6:30pm start Glenlyon Hall, Daylesford-Malmsbury Rd, Glenlyon.

The Glenlyon Progress Association has graciously offered light refreshments, and there will be an opportunity for the community and candidates to mingle before and following the more formal aspects of the evening.