Chris McLafferty, widow of former Tea Tree Gully councillor Jim, to run in Steventon Ward by-election
SELF-confessed “born survivor” Chris McLafferty will try to fulfil her late husband’s dying wish of taking his place on Tea Tree Gully Council.
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SELF-confessed “born survivor” Chris McLafferty will try to fulfil her late husband’s dying wish of taking his place on Tea Tree Gully Council.
She will nominate for Steventon Ward, just months after her husband of 48 years, Jim, died.
Mrs McLafferty told NorthEastern Weekly that – even when suffering terminal illness – he was determined to find ways of avoiding a by-election because it would cost ratepayers at least $40,000.
“He tried very hard to make it to January (the cut-off date) so they wouldn’t need to be a by-election,” Mrs McLafferty said.
“That was a big thing for him and he tried desperately for this not to happen.”
But he also had a Plan B in mind.
In his final days – and knowing a by-election couldn’t be avoided – Cr McLafferty sought assurances from some colleagues they would support his wife’s own political tilt.
The run for Steventon gives is a chance to channel her emotions into something positive.
“It will give me a sense of purpose,” she says.
“I’m very familiar with this, I don’t feel threatened by it – a bit scared, because it’s me out there instead of Jim, but I’m not daunted by the challenge.”
Steventon Ward covers the suburbs of Surrey Downs, Fairview Park, Banksia Park, Tea Tree Gully, Vista, Yatala Vale, Houghton, Upper Hermitage, Gould Creek and part of Golden Grove.
Mrs Lafferty says she was determined to not lapse into a deep depression like she did several years ago.
“I’m a born survivor, I’ve had my ups and downs,” she says.
“I had a car accident a few years ago.
“I was determined not to go to that dark place... to fill my mind with things I can do, rather than what I couldn’t do.”
Mrs McLafferty, who moved to the Gully in 1965, hopes to complete some of late husband’s “unfinished business”, like making the city more environmentally sustainable with solar panels and copying his “pester factor” to get state governments to fix the roundabouts.
“He said many years ago we need to beautify the city,” she says.
“The intersection on Hancock and Golden Grove roads, that’s another big thing he wanted to see fixed.
“It’s been churned up by big quarry trucks for years and years and years – and nothing’s happened.”
Candidates can nominate for the Steventon by-election from today until noon on January 25. Voting papers will be posted to registered voters between February 6 and 12,
Mrs McLafferty’s focus at present is directed solely at that campaign.
She remains undecided on a possible crack at November’s full council elections.
“At the moment I’m finding my feet – I’m discovering who I am,” she says.
“That’s part of my journey.”