As we did last month, we have interviewed and profiled two candidates who are considering running for a seat on The Baw Baw Shire Council. Traf District News is not endorsing any of the candidates but simply wants to help introduce them to our readership. We will profile more candidates in the next issue as we close in on the elections in October.
Potential Council Candidate – Roy Lindsay
By Jordan Ross
With experience managing ports in Australia and overseas, as well as a history of local community advocacy, Roy Linsday believes he is ready to be a member of The Baw Baw Shire Council.
While originally from Scotland, he has lived in the shire for around 20 years. Before this, his work in shipping led him to Papua New Guinea, then Geelong and Melbourne. With his management experience, he views the affairs of the council as business.
“Council is business not politics, it makes the business decisions that have to be made,” he said.
As he doesn’t see council as politics, he is staunchly against political affiliations and doesn’t want party voting to influence the elections.
“I don’t think there’s any place for party politics in local government,” he said.
“I am truly independent,” he said.
While he is critical of some decisions made by the current council, he also believes they deserve credit where credit is due.
“There are about 2,000 km of roads that they look after… that’s a lot of roads,” he said, recognising the difficulties in managing a range of different roads throughout the Shire.
Looking forward to a potential seat on the council, he wants to ensure that the community gets “value for money” from the council. Essentially meaning the council acts responsibly and efficiently to serve locals best.
With The Baw Baw Shire being one of the fastest growing areas in Victoria, Roy believes it is important to balance planning and preparation for population growth with ensuring the area maintains its regional charm.
He has witnessed the power and influence that small communities can wield. In 2018, he was involved in campaigning against the construction of a BP Service Station between Yarragon and Warragul. He went to VCAT along with other passionate locals and they won their battle.
“I think that’s the spirit of a small community… everybody comes out of the woodwork and fights,” he said.
He currently lives in Yarragon and is a candidate for the East Ward.
When I asked him why he most wanted to stand for council, he said;
“I don’t want to sound like a cliché, but [I want to] serve the community.”
Cliché or not, he certainly is approaching this opportunity with the right intentions.
Potential Council Candidate – Brendan Kingwill
I `was born and raised on a dairy farm in Yarragon and attended Yarragon Primary School, followed by Warragul Technical School.
From a young age, my parents instilled in me a strong sense of community involvement, getting me active in the local community and volunteering.
This early exposure to community service influenced my values and I became the President of the Yarragon Cricket Club and Deputy Chair of Dowton Park Recreation Reserve at the age of 18.
During this period, I worked part-time with the Department of Community Services, supporting individuals with disabilities, and also at Yarragon Kindergarten.
These roles eventually led me to become the Coordinator of the Moe/Narracan Youth Outreach Project, where I managed adventure-based and housing programs for at-risk youth and members of the Narracan Shire. This experience paved the way for a position in Canberra, where I spent the next few years.
After returning to the area and spending a decade in the welfare sector, I shifted my focus to marketing, publicity, and promotion. I was involved with the Baw Baw Shire’s Twin Town Promotion and Mardi Gras.
In 1998, I purchased a small takeaway business in Yarragon and a year later acquired another in Trafalgar, which remains operational today, 25 years later.
I expanded my business network to include stores in Korumburra, Heathcote, Geelong, and Warragul.
I have been actively involved with the Trafalgar Chamber of Commerce and was recently honoured to receive a Life Membership for my contributions.
Over the years, I have held numerous board positions, including Chair of the Baw Baw Business Advisory Board, Victorian Small Business Council, and eight years on the Gippsland Business Council. Additionally, I have served on the Trafalgar Chamber of Commerce for 25 years, including 18 years in executive roles.
I am married with two daughters, a stepdaughter, and a stepson (deceased). From this family, I am now a grandfather to ten grandchildren, ranging in age from 1 to 10.
I am running for Council because I am concerned that certain service patterns might become entrenched as policy. With the new boundaries, smaller towns are being overlooked, resulting in sub-standard work in our CBDs and neglected rural roads. We are paying premium rates for experts hired by the Shire, only to spend additional funds on consultants to review their work. This financial waste of ratepayer money could be better used to repair roads, invest in sporting grounds and our local community centres.
Good governance starts with good councillors who understand how our communities work best together. I want to bring my years of experience in the private sector to local government so we can fix the issues plaguing our Shire. Not just the basics like roads, rates and rubbish but addressing the issues relating to poor customer service and community engagement between Council officers and the public.
