Thread by @IndigenousX

It's #LocalGovernmentWeek - and as I am a Councillor for the Warrumbungle Shire Council let's talk about getting into places where change can be made - like local government

Let's start with all the reasons you would think I would not be on council.
- I am Aboriginal in a conservative country area that still has deep racist pockets
- I have piercings and am covered in tattoos
- I am gay (still an issue in conservative country areas)
cont.

- I'm fairly young (lol)
- I am pretty outspoken about the things I am passionate about
- I don't have more than High School education
- I am on the left hand side of politics

So why did I choose to enter "politics"?

cont.

For years I have been on committees and volunteered for all sorts of organisations that do good work for our local community, and further.

The 2016 census showed that Coonabarabran has an ATSI pop. of almost 16% and yet there had never been an Aboiriginal person elected
cont.

I was tired of the decisions coming out of council being skewed towards the local farming community, and nothing for the youth and negatively targeted populations.
I saw council as a way direct change could be made.

cont.

I am not going to lie. It's been HARD WORK.
Trying to change things is like trying to push a mountain over with your bare hands. But it is not impossible.
I want to encourage everyone to start getting on committees and think about local gov.
Cont.

Being active rather than passive is how change is made. If you don't want to be up front, you can always help the person who does.
We need more of us in places that matter, and you can be a gay, tattooed, Aboriginal person with a big mouth in rural area and still make change.