Independent candidate for Gilmore, Kate Dezarnaulds, labels Berry a ‘miserable, backwards retirement village’ in exclusive email

An independent candidate for the seat of Gilmore has labelled a quaint town in her electorate beloved by locals and tourists a “miserable backwards retirement village”, leaked emails reveal.

Independent candidate for Gilmore, Kate Dezarnaulds, called Berry a “miserable, backwards retirement village” in an email sent in May, 2024. Picture: Tom McGann

An independent candidate for the seat of Gilmore – the most marginal seat in the country – has called a quaint town in her electorate beloved by locals and tourists a “miserable backwards retirement village” she “can’t wait to get the hell out of”, leaked emails reveal.

In the email exclusively acquired by The Daily Telegraph, and sent to numerous Shoalhaven Council employees on May 29 last year, independent candidate for Gilmore and former Berry Business Chamber president, Kate Dezarnaulds, blasted Berry and likened her duties to kicking a can down the road.

“My term as president finishes in August and I cannot wait to get the hell out,” she said in the email, which discussed how some local community groups had access to certain facilities in Berry, while others did not.

Ms Dezarnaulds told this publication she did indeed write and send the email, admitting her comments were “poorly worded”.

“The comments in question came in a moment of frustration at the 11th hour, after months of stonewalling by council in providing transparent details about leases over valuable community assets,” she said.

“Anyone familiar with the dynamics of Berry’s community groups will understand the occasional frustrations felt by those pushing for positive change against the resistance of a very vocal minority of our mostly wonderful retired residents.”

Ms Dezarnaulds said it was clear her email was released to media to “stir division in my hometown”.

It was a rainy first day of voting at Batemans Bay in Gilmore. Picture: Tom McGann

“If that’s the worst they can find about me on the eve of a federal election, the people of Gilmore should sleep as soundly as I do,” she said.

However, independent member for Kiama Gareth Ward – whose state seat includes Berry – slammed Ms Dezarnaulds’ comments as “highly offensive”.

“I’ve represented Berry for 20 years, first as a councillor and now as a state MP, and I find these comments from a federal candidate extremely disappointing,” he said.

“How dare she refer to her own hometown as that.”

A snippet from Kate Dezarnaulds' email. Picture: Supplied

Ms Dezarnaulds previously told this publication she believed Gilmore could be won by an independent, claiming “people were sick of the major parties”.

She also said her background as a businesswoman and former business chamber president gave her a fresh perspective to lead the electorate, which stretches from Moruya to Kiama.

“Independent member popularity has grown across Australia because we aren’t bogged down by what the big parties tell us to believe,” Ms Dezarnaulds said.

Australia’s federal election will be held Saturday, May 3.

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Originally published as Independent candidate for Gilmore, Kate Dezarnaulds, labels Berry a ‘miserable, backwards retirement village’ in exclusive email