Greater Shepparton City Council election 2024: Meet the candidates
The candidates for the Greater Shepparton City Council elections are all done and dusted, with a ballot draw announced on Wednesday. Check out who’s running in your ward.
Goulburn Valley
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The Greater Shepparton City Council election is not far away, and all of the candidates have been locked in.
Have other questions about the election? We answer everything you need to know and more here.
Balaclava Ward
Rudo Makombe
Rudo Makombe will be running as a candidate in the Balaclava Ward.
Ms Makombe is an entrepreneur with a demonstrated history of working in the health wellness and fitness industry.
Ms Makombe works at Goulburn Valley Health, and has lived in Shepparton for four years after moving to the region after her time as an international student.
She has not responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Shane Sali
The mayor will run again in the 2024 election.
Shane Sali, who is of Albanian heritage, grew up in the area and played football locally.
Mr Sali has dealt with the 2022 floods in his time as mayor and has a great appreciation for the multicultural community that exists in Greater Shepparton.
He has been on the council since 2020.
Mr Sali has not responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Diane Teasdale
Diane Teasdale will run in the Balaclava Ward.
Ms Teasdale, of Shepparton, will represent the Freedom Party.
She has not responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Goulburn River Ward
Severin Duhring
Mooroopna resident Severin Duhring has lived in the region for 54 years and will put his foot forward to represent the Greater Shepparton City Council.
Mr Durhing, a passionate volunteer, will hope to bring positive change to the region.
He has not responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Rowan Farren
Rowan Farren is a Shepparton-born man who is Greater Shepparton City Council candidate in the Goulburn River Ward.
Mr Farren, now living across the causeway in Mooroopna, is passionate about advocacy and political representation.
Mooroopna is home to the Goulburn River Ward.
Having been brought up around small business, he wants to advocate for a stronger local economy for both community and small businesses, priority for him is making sure that the needs of our community are served as well as making the region one that his future children and grandchildren can be proud of.
Mr Farren is a member of the Liberal Party but will run as an independent.
He joined the Liberal Party this year.
Mr Farren said he believed local council politics should “not be reduced petty party politics and should instead serve the community”.
Emmersyn Rea
Emmersyn Rea, a fifth-generation Toolamba local, will run for the Goulburn River Ward at the upcoming election.
Ms Rea was born and raised on a dairy farm and is in charge of a business in Toolamba.
She is passionate about supporting primary producers and small businesses, and hopes to get recognition for smaller communities and people within the Greater Shepparton region.
The three key issues she believes affect the local area are adequate waste resources, infrastructure and roads and Mooroopna drainage upgrades.
Ms Rea has no political affiliations, and currently lives in Kialla with an idea of moving back to Toolamba one day.
Sherri Smith-Hoyer
Sherri Smith-Hoyer will run as a candidate in the Goulburn River Ward.
Ms Smith-Hoyer is passionate about community, agriculture and regional prosperity.
If elected, Ms Smith-Hoyer said she would “strengthen” the economy, “protect” agricultural sectors and “implement solutions for affordable and diverse housing”.
Ms Smith-Hoyer has involved herself with several committees to address public health and wellbeing and also was involved in the closure of Dhurringile Prison.
Ms Smith-Hoyer said she was an independent with no political or union affiliations.
Paul Wickham
Born in Kyabram, Paul Wickham is now a passionate Mooroopna community member, and will run in the Goulburn River Ward at the upcoming election.
The owner of Paul Wickham Pharmacy in Mooroopna, which he has run since 2007, Mr Wickham hopes to bring his extensive medical knowledge to council.
Mr Wickham said he was “excited to represent the locals of Mooroopna, Toolamba, Dhurringile and Murchison”.
The local pharmacist wants to create a “more resilient community” to the west of the Goulburn River.
Mr Wickham also aims to bolster tourism in the region, particularly around “the beautiful Goulburn River”.
He has not responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Simon Wyatt
Simon Wyatt will run in the Goulburn River Ward.
Mr Wyatt believes the most important issues facing the council are roads, rates and rubbish.
He is not a member of a political union and will run as an independent.
He was once a member of the Australian Democrats.
Mr Wyatt said “I am a doer not just a talker and I feel like I have a very good grasp on local issues and community needs”.
Kialla Ward
Anthony Brophy
Kialla resident Anthony Brophy will run in the Kialla Ward.
Mr Brophy believes the three biggest residents facing the council are land and housing availability, transport connectivity and water security for the region.
Mr Brophy said “we are the food bowl of Victoria and Australia and we need to maintain that clean and green advantage that we have globally”.
Mr Brophy has no political afflitations or memberships and will run as an independent.
Terri Cowley
Terri Cowley, a Kialla resident who has lived in the region for 16 years, will run for the Kialla Ward at the upcoming election.
Ms Cowley will focus on better roads and rubbish removal, improving parks and open spaces and ensuring residents get their fair share of rates and taxes.
She has not responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Kamal Dhillon
Kialla’s Kamal Dhillon will run in his own town in the upcoming election.
Mr Dillon believes the three biggest issues facing council are ensuring a better environment for parks and lakes, more childcare facilities and better public transport.
There are is no public transport in the Kialla Ward.
Mr Dillon has never been a member of any political party and is a “proud Kialla resident”.
Brendan Gosstray
Brendan Gosstray, a 23-year resident of Kialla Lakes will run in the Kialla Ward.
The three biggest issues facing council according to Mr Gosstray are reducing the impacts of the current cost of living crisis, addressing the housing crisis by increasing housing supply and driving economic and community growth through investments in assets and services that have genuine and high priority cost and community benefits.
Mr Gosstray has no current affiliation with any parties but was a member of the Australian Services Union (ASU).
Lower Goulburn Ward
Garry James Alexander
Garry Alexander will run in the Lower Goulburn Ward at this year’s election.
He has not responded to questions from The Herald Sun.
Dinny Adem
Dinny Adem will run in the Lower Goulburn Ward at this year’s election.
He has not responded to questions from The Herald Sun.
Kieron Eddy
Kieron Eddy will represent the Lower Goulburn Ward at the upcoming election.
Mr Eddy lives in Undera and grew up in Shepparton.
Mr Eddy believes that the three main issues affecting the area are water buybacks, “basics of council being overlooked for pretty shiny cosmetic issues that councillors think will help their political careers” and rising council rates.
He is an affiliate of the Libertarian Party but will run as an independent.
Santhiya Subramaniam
Santhiya Subramaniam will run in the Lower Goulburn Ward.
The recent university graduate has plans to stand up for under-represented communities, will advocate for cost effective waste management and will hope to preserve the historical sites on her side of the Goulburn River.
Ms Subramaniam graduated with a Diploma of Justice from the Kangan Institute.
She did not respond to questions from the Herald Sun.
McEwen Ward
Ben Ladson
Sitting councillor Ben Ladson will run in the McEwen Ward of the Greater Shepparton City Council.
He has not responded to questions from The Herald Sun.
Steven Threlfall
Steve ‘Trelly’ Threlfall will run in the McEwen Ward in this year’s election.
Mr Threlfall hopes to “bring back common sense to the council table” if he is elected.
The McEwen Ward has been home to Mr Threlfall’s family for more than 100 years.
Mr Threlfall will focus on the importance of water to the Greater Shepparton economy if elected.
“Our whole region’s economic wellbeing is linked to water, without water you’ll see tumble weeds rolling down Wyndham St,” Mr Threllfall said.
Mr Threlfall also wants to focus on the preservation of Greater Shepparton’s creeks, rivers and wetlands.
The three biggest issues impacting the council according to Mr Threlfall are “woke items and divisive cancel cultures”, the cost-of-living crisis and Shepparton’s economic sustainability with regards to water buybacks.
Mr Threlfall is a member of the Country Alliance and believes in ‘Australian mateship’.
Midland Ward
Rod Schubert
Tatura’s Rod Schubert will run in the Midland Ward at the upcoming election.
He has lived in the region for 30 years, and in Tatura for 23 years.
Mr Schubert hopes to bring more employment to the Tatura, Merrigum and Undera areas.
The proud Taturan wants people to be able to stay in their own towns to work, rather than have to travel to Shepparton.
He did not respond to questions from the Herald Sun.
Pine Lodge Ward
Geoff Akers
Tallygaroopna’s Geoff Akers will run in the Pine Lodge Ward at the upcoming election.
His family have lived in the area for more than 100 years.
Mr Akers, a dairy farmer, has experience on various agricultural boards.
Mr Akers believes the three biggest issues impacting the Greater Shepparton region are “protecting water” that grows the local economy, cutting red tape and ensuring council “delivers value and outcomes” with ratepayer money.
Mr Akers lives in the Pine Lodge Ward and noted there had not been a farmer on the Shepparton council for 20 years.
Mr Akers has never been a member of any political party or union.
Phillip Chua
Phillip Chua will run in the Pine Lodge Ward having lived there for six years.
He has lived in the Greater Shepparton area for more than 25 years.
Mr Chua has a naturopath and herbalist clinic in the Shepparton CBD and hopes to bring a fresh perspective to the council.
Mr Chua said the three biggest issues facing the council were road quality and maintenance, maintaining infrastructure with increasing cost of material and labour costs and supporting small businesses.
He has no political or union ties.
Ian Martin
Katandra West resident Ian Martin will run in the Pine Lodge Ward at the upcoming election.
Born in England, Mr Martin has been in the Greater Shepparton area for a long time, and has lived at Katandra West for 10 years.
Mr Martin is a country boy at heart but has experience in large corporate business and leadership.
He is passionate about sport and has been on various committees, including the Katandra Cricket Club.
Mr Martin has also been a member of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre consumer engagement team.
Mr Martin hopes to bring positive change to the community.
Mr Martin believes the three key issues impacting the council are the bureaucracy to get things done, council getting involved in state and federal issues and a lack of future vision and planning that is centred around four year terms.He has no political affiliations and has never been involved in a party or union.
Jac McCarty
Kialla’s Jac McCarty will run in the Pine Lodge Ward at the upcoming election.
Ms McCarty is passionate about giving the smaller areas of Greater Shepparton a voice. “Growing up in Kialla Central I learned the importance of what being a part of a small driven group of people could achieve but also how much harder we had to campaign to be noticed,” she said.
“The Pine Lodge Ward covers many diverse towns that are deserving of their voice being heard and funding being spent where it matters to the community.
“I can make our seat at the table count.”
Ms McCarty believes the three biggest issues facing the council are water buybacks, workforce shortages and “getting back to basics”, including issues such as rubbish collection.
Ms McCarty is not affiliated with any party and will run as an independent.
Poplar Ward
Sam Spinks
The deputy mayor will run again in the Poplar Ward at the 2024 election.
Ms Spinks is passionate about social justice and community development, and hopes to focus on doing the little things well with care and transparency.
Ms Spinks has ambitions to make Greater Shepparton the most accessible and inclusive it can possibly be.
Ms Spinks is running unopposed and therefore will secure another term at the council.
She did not respond to questions from the Herald Sun.
Yanha Gurtji Ward
Leigh Johnson
Leigh Johnson will run in the Yanha Gurtji Ward in the upcoming election.
Mr Johnson has a role as a community enagegemnt officer with Victoria Police, and “loves working with community, espeically schools”.
He was previously a councillor in the Hume City Council but grew up in the ward.
Mr Johnson did not respond to questions from The Herald Sun.
Tom Saxton
With a background in research and advocacy, Tom Saxton has represented Greater Shepparton’s interests in state policy and government strategies.
Mr Saxton believes long-term decisive yet adaptable strategic planning is essential to shaping a successful future for the region.
He has written for the Australian Institute of International Affairs and The Conversation.
Mr Saxton will advocate for ensuring better value for ratepayer dollars and believes the elected council must present a unified voice to state and federal governments.
“Securing vital infrastructure developments, such as ensuring the expansion of the capacity of our local health services, will be crucial for supporting Greater Shepparton’s continued growth,” Mr Saxton said.
He is passionate about transparency and will commit to publicly explaining his reasons for every vote he makes if elected.
He did not respond to questions from the Herald Sun.
Fern Summer
Fern Summer is a local nurse who has been on the Greater Shepparton City Council since 2012.
Ms Summer will push safe and appropriate housing if she is elected.
Ms Summer did not respond to questions from The Herald Sun.
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