John Fergusson
John Fergusson is standing for mayor and as lead candidate in Ward 2.
John Fergusson’s credentials as a Mayoral candidate for SCC in the upcoming Council elections include a technical (aviation) and managerial background. He has 30 years experience as a small business owner and extensive experience in positions of leadership in industry and community. He is currently operating as a mortgage broker in the Shoalhaven region. John has resided in the Shoalhaven (Vincentia) for 5 years.
John says, “My motivation for standing as Mayor is that I believe I could, with the support of SAC candidates on Council, make a real difference to the quality of life in the Shoalhaven for the wider community, not just the preferred few.
Initially I became involved in the Council process through my great disquiet over the process by which Council was trying to implement development control plans for Huskisson and Ulladulla, particularly noting the overwhelming community objections to buildings of excessive height, size and scale. I became engaged in other Council issues and moved from disquiet to being appalled at the way Council does its business.
The personal attributes I believe I could bring to this role are an ethical, straight forward approach to people and topics; the capacity to assess and understand complex issues; inclusive, confidence-building engagement with all sides of an issue or debate and an understanding of financial matters.”
John’s experience in the finance sector in the Shoalhaven over the last 5 years has given him a strong understanding of the impact of the Shoalhaven’s very high unemployment rate and very low average income. John says he will work hard to overcome these disadvantages. John has also volunteered as a youth mentor and has some understanding of issues facing young people in the Shoalhaven and the means by which Council can play a positive role. Council is no longer just about roads, rates and rubbish..
He is an effective communicator and is not lacking ‘a bit of bottle’ when it gets tough. His goals include:
- Adopting principals of Accountability, Transparency and Integrity in all matters before Council.
- Respecting Council staff recommendations on issues as appropriate.
- Protecting our city from ‘High Rise’ development, instead encouraging appropriate development that differentiates the Shoalhaven.
- Promoting and attracting small to medium business development to provide a growing labour market.
- Recognizing the wonderful asset of the Shoalhaven River, ensure its environmental health and flows and seeking ways for it be an integral part of Nowra
- Looking for strategies to revitalize the ‘old’ CBD of Nowra for commerce and citizens
- Analysing the reasons for high unemployment /low income in the Shoalhaven and developing policy and partnerships with State and Federal governments to improve the situation.
- Ensuring that the asset we have in the rail link is upgraded and electrified to improve speed and integrate it into the wider rail system with improved frequency and travel times.
- Promoting a third, viable, river crossing.
- Striving for a better Ulladulla harbour precinct and CBD.
- Looking for ways to lead on environmental and global warming issues.
- Repealing the development control plans for Ulladulla and Huskisson and reverting substantially to the policy recommended by council planning staff.
John says it’s important to also restore the moral authority and good name of Shoalhaven City Council. He will end the secrecy and the divisive approach of the current Council that has created so much community anxiety. John will lead a council for all. He will ensure Council follows the rules and the State Government no longer has to intervene on a regular basis.
John Fergusson believes he can bring a set of fresh eyes with mature judgment to the table and, with the assistance of SAC colleagues, play his part as Mayor in making the Shoalhaven a better place for now and the future.
Rebecca Rudd
Rebecca Rudd has lived in the central Shoalhaven for 20 years. She has a background in natural resource management and continues to work in this field, particularly in weed management.
Rebecca first stood for, and was elected, to Council in 2004 because she loved where she lived and wanted to keep loving where she lived. Rebecca was particularly concerned that the decisions being made by Council were not in the community’s best interest.
Rebecca’s motivation in standing for Council this time is similar but she comes to the election with the benefit of the experience gained over the last four and a half years.
Rebecca says, “It has been both a privilege and an extremely rewarding experience to have represented the community as a Councillor. The single most important thing I have learnt is that our community is diverse – old and young, business and tourism operators, developers, conservationists, farmers, sea-changers, retirees and, most importantly, those in need. I embrace this diversity – it makes the Shoalhaven interesting.
The challenge before us is to ensure that all these different sectors have a voice and are represented fairly on Shoalhaven City Council. I fundamentally believe that all sectors of our community, be they environmentalists or developers, ratepayers or residents must be represented in the decision making.”
Rebecca’s decision making reflects her background and experience She will continue to have an open mind and represent the views of the local communities across the Shoalhaven.
Rebecca Rudd believes that Council needs consistency and integrity in its policies and development control plans. These guiding documents need to be respected, applied to decision making and then enforced.
It is vital that people of integrity and sincerity, who are determined to bring community views into Council, continue to have a seat there. With this in mind, Rebecca asks people to vote for the Shoalhaven Action Campaign team on the 13th of September 2008.
Mary Bloxsome
Mary Bloxsome is an Aboriginal woman and a descendent of the “Jerrinja” Aboriginal community at Orient Point. Mary has been married for the past 22 years to a local who is part of a large, well known Indigenous family. She has five sons and twelve grandchildren therefore she understands the needs of local families. As a resident of the area for 27 years and a community worker for 20 years Mary Bloxsome has developed a strong relationship with the local Aboriginal community as well as the non-Indigenous community.
Mary Bloxsome is employed as a Caseworker for the South Coast Medical Service Out Of Home Care and has worked throughout the local area with young people. Her past employment includes: Coordinator for the Aboriginal Youth Movement, In-house parent for the Shoalhaven Youth Refuge and an Outreach work for the Shoalhaven Youth Accommodation.
Mary says, ”I believe it is important that Indigenous communities have a say in what is happening in their local area and one way of doing this is by being elected to council. It has been too long since the Indigenous community has had a voice on the local council and it is time we did again.”
As a Councillor Mary undertakes to work on behalf of all sectors of the local community.
Laura Eringa
Laura Eringa has been actively involved in improving her local community since moving to the Shoalhaven in 1982. She has raised a family in the area and been involved in many local projects. Laura was involved in the gazetting of the Booderee National Park and played an active role in establishing the St Georges Basin play group and a permanent preschool at Huskisson. She also worked hard to provide much needed resources to Sanctuary Point Primary School.
Since 2000, Laura has built and run a successful small business. Laura’s Garden Café has become an icon in Sanctuary Point. The café and the surrounding grounds are regarded as an “oasis” in the area.
Laura has successfully lobbied council to improve parking and road surfaces, to keep amenities clear and in good order and to provide pathways and pram ramps, lighting and seating in the immediate vicinity of the café. These campaigns demonstrate Laura’s capacity to get things done. She has the drive and energy to see the Bay and Basin area improve in ways which enhance its natural beauty. She has a vision for Sanctuary Point.
Laura will use this experience and tenacity as a Councillor by representing all parts of the diverse community which is the Shoalhaven.
With the support of the local community Laura is confident that Sanctuary Point, St Georges Basin and the surrounding villages have the potential to become the ideal place to raise children, nurture youth, develop diverse businesses and care for our aging residents.