So Close Yet So Far.....

The final election results are out. After the preferences were allocated, I came 13th, so just missed out on bring elected to Council by a few votes. Congratulations to the 12 elected, both the previous Councilors and the newly elected ones. Congratulations also to the other candidates who stood but were not elected. It is pleasing to know that 20 people were prepared to accept nomination in this Election to help our Muswellbrook Shire grow and develop during the next 4 years. I'm disappointed that I have not been elected, but now will have the time to pursue my other dreams. I don't regard it as either winning or losing, just that I gave it a go and was one of those not elected. The final results can be seen on the AEC website. Of course I will wonder what I could have done to get those few extra votes needed, but I did the best I could with my limited time and finances, and I did enjoy meeting new people and seeing different parts of the Shire that I had previously not explored. Again, congratulations to all the other 19 candidates. And a big thank you to all those who helped me in any way and voted for me.

Still waiting . . .

No further updates on the voting as yet. I understand they started counting the preference votes today, and this will continue on till tomorrow or beyond. Maybe the updated results will be out late tomorrow. Keep your eyes tuned to the AEC website for any news....

The Voting has ended and the Counting started....

The first preference votes have been counted. Out of the 7,798 formal votes made, I received 290 or 3.72%, which has placed me 10th of the 20 candidates. 9 candidates received more votes than me, and 10 candidates received fewer votes than than me. 12 people will be elected to Council, but as preferences have not been counted as yet, I am still not sure if I will be one of the 12. The candidates with fewer 1st votes may end up with more preference votes, so they may end up being elected and not me. So it is a matter of waiting for a few more days to find out. If you would to see the latest voting figures go to the Australian Electoral Commission website http://vtr.elections.nsw.gov.au/ , click on "Results by local government area", then click on "Muswellbrook" then "Post Election Night". A big thank you for those who voted for me and supported me in any way.

Exhaustion....

I'm at the exhausted stage now, having spent several days driving along most of the county roads in the Shire to the Shires borders (except in the Martindale area - just ran out of time..), 2 days standing at the pre-poll centre in Bridge street yearstday and today, and walking every street in Muswellbrook and Denman letterboxing to about 10 at night during the past 2 weeks, and printing off the next lot of leaflets till about 1 in the morning on my old, very slow, inkjet printer...

Tomorrow will be the last big day, getting up at 5 to place posters at the polling centres, then spending some time at each of them till 6pm, than back home to flake... My wife and 2 children will take it in turns to be at the Basketball Stadium, but wont be there all day. With 20 candidates, I'm sure people will feel bombarded when they go to vote, and most will have made up their minds already, and the others will just do a donkey vote.

The candidates tally of 1st votes will be put up on the window at the prepoll centre in Bridge street when they are counted, which should be about 8-10pm. They will also be on the AEC website and updated on Saturday night as well. So I will probably stay at home and look at the telly and glance at the computer during the ad breaks, if i'm game...... A candidate will need about 650 1st votes to be on Council. If 650 isn't reached, then 2nd ,3rd and so on preference votes will be counted next week. I'm guessing I won't get 650 1st votes, so wont know if I get elected onto Council until mid-next week.

Thank you to all those people who have supported me in various ways in the lead up to tomorrow - provided feedback, shared concerns, and encouraged me to keep going on. Thank you!

Email

One thing I should have put on my blog page at its commencement was my email address so that people could email me. Here it is - max-llewelyn@aapt(dot)net(dot)au with the (dot)replaced by a .

Make your vote count !

It bit more about me....
I was born in Albury and attended Albury Primary and High Schools. I then completed my Diploma of Youth Work and worked in various Youth Work positions in Victoria and NSW. I received my Bachelor of Theology Degree in Sydney in 1990 and was a Minister at Forbes for 7 years and then Muswellbrook. I am presently a casual Funeral Assistant in the Muswellbrook Shire. I have worked as a vine pruner in a local vineyard, on the bottling line at Rosemount Wines, and various odd jobs such as a plasterer, boat salesman, and TV series actor. I am married to Lynne, who teaches piano to children in Denman and Muswellbrook. We have 3 beaut children, John and Sarah who attend Muswellbrook High, and Emma, who commenced University studies this year. In my spare time I enjoy gardening, restoring furniture, bushwalking and mowing people’s lawns for them.

More Ramblings . . .

Another day of driving to meet the rural residents, clocking up 154 kilometres. Now the towns of Sandy Hollow, Denman, and Muswellbrook, and most of the rural areas have been covered. Thanks to the 2 friends who helped me. There is only one rural area I have missed out on visiting - time has just run out.
Muswellbrook Shire Council says one of the problems it has is not having the necessary finance available to do all they would like to do in the Shire. Today I learnt something that would be funny if it wasn't so serious. Apparently Council has constructed a speed hump in Muswellbrook, and nearby residents have complained about the excessive noise made when vehicles pass over it. Council has looked into matters, and has discovered that a) the speed hump was constructed at the wrong height specification, and b) was constructed out of the wrong materials. The remedy? Remove the speed hump and build a new one of the correct height and correct materials. Why didn't Council get it right in the first place? Now the ratepayers have to pay twice for the construction costs of the one speedhump. One wonders what else the Council has got wrong and had to re-do at the ratepayers expense.....

A Country Ramble

Today I traveled some of country roads in our Muswellbrook Shire to meet the country folk. I travelled from Kayuga to Sandy Hollow along the Wybong Road, and drove out along all the roads that went off to the right, such as Castlerock Rd, Ridgelands Rd, Powers Rd, Dry Creek Rd, Yarraman Rd, Wybong Post Office Rd etc. After a lunch stop in Sandy Hollow I then went out along Giants Creek Rd, and back to the Golden Highway via Greg Stairs Rd to Gungal. Then back home via Denman.

It took me most of the day, and 265 kilometers of driving, but it was well worth it. The scenery was terrific, with fascinating rock formations, flowing creeks after the rain, and friendly people. I even spotted a turtle in one of the causeways that had water flowing over it.

I was alarmed at the large area the Mangoola Coal Mine will cover - lots of locked gates to former farming properties with "no tresspassing" signs up. Its a pity that the beauty of the countryside will disappear to a coal mine. I hope that the other non-mine areas in the Shire will continue with their various farming activities, and that tourism opportunities will open up so that more people can enjoy the beauty of the rural areas of our Shire.

Candidate Profile

Our local paper, "The Muswellbrook Chronicle", has been printing Candidate Profiles for each of the 20 Candidates standing for the Muswellbrook Shire Council on the 13th. They asked each Candidate the same questions and limited us to 500 words. (I think I used 499 words.) My Profile was printed on Friday 29 August. For those of you who missed it, I am including it todays blog.

Why did you decide to stand for Muswellbrook Shire Council?
I am proud to be a Muswellbrook Shire resident and I am eager to help it grow and become a more wonderful place to live, work and relax in. I am impressed by the many people who volunteer their time and energy to the community and donate to worthwhile causes. I have the skills, time, and energy to commit myself to being an active Councillor for and on behalf of all the people of the Muswellbrook Shire. I am an independent candidate standing for openness, honesty, and integrity.

What are the major issues currently facing Muswellbrook Shire?
Future sustainability when coal deposits are depleted. The excess amount of dust in the air from mining. The drab appearance of the town’s approaches and Muswellbrook’s main street. The large number of empty shops with three more to close soon. The lack of a Theatre/Civic Centre. The improvement of communication between the Council and residents. The relocation of the Tourist Information Centre to a visible location.

What three things do you hope to achieve, if elected?
1) A return to Shire basics of better maintained footpaths and streets, many which have deteriorated over the years. More concreted footpaths in heavy pedestrian areas to reduce the incidence of falls and sprained ankles. No more costly street “improvements” such as in the disastrous ones made in Cook Street and the Skellatar Stock Route.
2) Provisions made for children, youth and families by the development of more parks with toilets, BBQs and playground equipment; the development of a large community adventure playground funded by grants and donations and built by community volunteer labour. The fastracking of a skateboard park. The construction of a cinema. The development of a river park.
3) The development of a large community run aged care facility with self care units, hostel, and a nursing home so that people do not have to move away from the Muswellbrook Shire when they age and there are no vacancies in the existing options.

What is your opinion of a Muswellbrook bypass?
The construction Muswellbrook bypass should commence as soon as possible. It is both dangerous and unpleasant to have so many heavy vehicles passing through and not stopping in Muswellbrook as they do now. Noise and congestion will be decreased. Conversations will be more enjoyable as people will be able to hear each other with fewer noise interruptions. More people will be attracted to walk and shop along the beautified main streets and support local businesses.

Is a strong economy in Muswellbrook Shire reliant on the mining industry?
The economy of Muswellbrook Shire partly relies on mining and power industries, however there should be far more benefits coming to the Shire than do at present. Considering the wealth of coal exports there should be more of a return to the Shire’s development. The Shire misses out on so much because of the many people who commute up the Highway to work in the mines but live and shop in the Lower Hunter. More attention should be given to forward planning so that a diverse range of productive economic enterprises are established now to cater for the time local coal deposits are depleted or alternative energy resources are utilised.

50th Anniversary

Just arrived home from a weekend away from election preparation. It was Gran and Gramps 50th wedding anniversary, and their wish was a weekend of camping with their three children and their partners, and the 8 grandchildren. So off we went for a weekend of sunshine bliss at Lake Lyell, near Lithgow, the spot chosen for it being central to all those who travelled. The others stayed in the comfort of their caravans, except our family who decided to do it the aussie way and enjoy the luxury of our old tents. Apart from the rain, our leaking tents, our tent that half collapsed during the first night, the airbeds that went down - it was great weekend. Campfires by night, roasted marshmallows, enjoying nature, and the rels company. A wonderful way of celebrating 50 years of wedded life together with all the extended family. Looking at the old wedding photos and those taken over the years. Now its back to election preparation......

Sense of Community

Being a Councillor is not all about what the Councillor wants - it is about listening to the needs and concerns of members of the community in the town and rural areas. Our community people have a wealth of ideas that we can explore to help get the sense of community fostered in our Shire. One resident has emailed me the following which is food for thought ......

"I have a suggestion. Muswellbrook needs it's own special annual event.
eg. Tamworth - Country Music Festival
Scone - Horse Week Festival.
Aberdeen - Highlander Games.
Denman - Food and Wine Affair.
Merriwa - Festival of the Fleeces.
Singleton - Countryfest (Australian Wife Carrying Championships), Show and Shine.

I think Muswellbrook has a parade for Muswellbrook Cup that's about it.

We need something like a food/wine/cheese festival to put us on the map and an event to bring the community together. It would bring tourists from all over (eg. bitter and twisted - Morpeth) and money into our local economy. A brilliant location would be from Simpson park to the Muswellbrook Hotel. You would have the Shamrock Hotel, Railway Hotel and Muswellbrook Hotel as licenced venues. Stalls and rides in the park, jazz bands at the train station, food markets along market street.

It's just a thought i've had that might improve the great town that i've spent my whole life in.
Thanks for your time, Brad"

The Muswellbrook Spring Carnival Parade has been slowly deteriorating over recent years, to the point where they have been cancelled this year. (It is hoped to get an event going next year to replace it.) We need to listen to the ideas of people like Brad so that we can have a successful community event in Muswellbrook. I have been to all the Festivals that were mentioned in his email and have seen how they have grown over the years attracting thousands of people. Now its Muswellbrooks turn.

Rain rain go away, come again another day

My plans changed today as it rained most of the day. I attempted to do some more letterboxing of my Election leaflets, but after 15 minutes of getting soaked, and seeing the leaflets were getting soaked in the mail boxes, I gave up and came back home. To save costs, I am just using white paper, as colored paper costs 2-3 times as much, and I am running them off on my old inkjet printer at home. I am not relying on any donations fom other people or groups; I am self funding my very modest Election campaign. This approach is the same way as I look on Shire Council finances. They need to look at both how they raise their income through rates and grants etc, and how they spend their money. The less expensive of sevaral possible ways should be the chosen one, and local spending should take priority over spending outside the Shire. I am now way behind in my letterboxing, but as soon as it stops raining I will be out once again. Lawnmowing will have to wait.....

Moving movies.... Terrific theatre...

Even though the Muswellbrook Shire has many great things going for it, it does have its shortcomings. A cinema for example. It has been said that we will not have one because our population is not large enough. If this is the case, how is it that other towns with smaller populations have had cinemas open up? We have a great Shire Band, talented tutors and students at the Conservatorium of Music, but no suitable venue for performances. Even though i have not seen it, people have told me about the Narrabri Crossing Theatre & Cultural Centre which opened in 2002. It contains two cinemas, the first cinema containing 259 seats and the second cinema containing 80 seats. The Centre also contains a large auditorium with a stage for productions and concerts and a gallery for extra seating. The auditorium and gallery can seat up to 850 people. The large adjoining kitchen and floorspace can accommodate for up to 400 guests for a sit-down meal. Adjoining the Auditorium is the Riverside Room which is a long room with bar facilities. The long side of the room has full length glass panels giving stunning views of the parklands and River. There is a balcony bordering the Riverside Room for outdoor entertaining. This room is suitable for smaller functions such as cocktail parties or as a foyer for functions in the auditorium. The Band Room is situated below the Riverside Room overlooking the River. The area allocated to the Shire Band is quite large with storage space for instruments. Directly outside the Band Room is an area suitable for outdoor functions and Marquees. The Exhibition Room at the Centre currently holds the Civic Collection. This room can also be used for smaller functions, exhibitions and seminars. (To find out more about the Crossing Theatre, check out their web site at www.crossingtheatre.com.au If Narrabri can have such a multi-purpose center, why not our Muswellbrook Shire?

Economic sustainability

Every few years new buzz words come into being. We are now in the era of the buzz phrase "economic sustainability". Looking up web references to it we come across the words income, expenses and profits. Some define economic sustainability as "economic development with minimal environmental degradation", or "equitable development that is environmentally and socially sound". Put simply, economic sustainability means operating a business in a manner that allows it to stay in business over time. I will work hard to make sure the Muswellbrook Shire Council fosters diversity, growth, development and creative opportunities for business, industry, tourism and agriculture. To have sustainable enterprises our Council needs to:

• actively promote increasing and innovative employment and education opportunities for the existing and future residents of our Shire. For example, our TAFE College needs to expand the courses run in our Shire rather than reducing courses.
  
• support our Chamber of Commerce in all it does to support local businesses, so that existing businesses stay in business, and new ones are attracted to our Shire to compliment the existing ones.
• undertake a review of retail services to identify business needs and to match this with population trends.
• prepare detailed urban design plans for all business centres in consultation with local businesses and the wider community.
• investigate possible recurrent sources of funding for business centre revitalisation works, events and marketing.
• undertake a review of permissible business developments in various zones within Muswellbrook Shire towns (for example, bulky goods in industrial zones, suitable floor space for neighbourhood shopping, general stores, food outlets/cafes, and so on), to assist in creating cohesive communities in each local area.
• establish a register of home-based businesses
  
• develop an information package and forum on the planning rules and assistance available for home bases businesses.
• support consolidation of land uses within existing retail precincts.

It is wrong for thinking to be restricted to just economic sustainability matters. We should also consider community sustainability, social sustainability, and spiritual sustainability. There is more to life than income, profits and riches.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to work we go

When we meet new people quite often the first question we ask them is what they do for work. We feel that knowing their occupation gives us an insight to whom they are. I believe that a persons being is far more complex than just the type of work they do. And I feel for unemployed people who don't have a job, as they often have a low self esteem from not being defined by the work they do. This is all a lead up to sharing of my present and past occupations to help introduce myself to those of you who have not met me as yet. But remember, I, like other people, are much more than an occupation.
My present work is as a casual Funeral Assistant working in all areas of the Muswellbrook Shire. This work has reinforced my value of the dignity of all people, from all works of life, both in death and in life. I only work on those few times each week when a funeral is held, so I have time available to work as an active Councilor if elected on the 13th.
My previous work was as an Office Coordinator for a community group in Muswellbrook, Before that I was the Co-ordinator of a group for men called 'Coping with Redundancy'. I also worked at the Rosemount Winery on the bottling line in Denman before it transfered its operations elsewhere, and pruned grape vines for a local vineyard.
To back-track a bit, I completed my Bachelor of Theology Degree in 1990. I was then appointed as a Minister in the Central West town Forbes, where I enjoyed the rural lifestyle for 7 years. Then I came to Muswellbrook to be a Minister here. In these two settings I learnt how to work with people from all backgrounds of life, of all ages, to value them, to be with them in their minor and major struggles, and to work alongside them to help them meet their needs. Also I experienced the joys and frustrations of chairing council and committee meetings.
To back-track even further, when I left High School I completed a Diploma of Youth work in Melbourne and for more than 20 years worked in a range of youth work position in Victoria and NSW. Some included being a Youth Worker for a church, managing a work co-operative for the unemployed, being a Youth Worker in a high school, co-ordinating and leading school holiday and after-school programs, running a youth drop-in centre, being an Adolescent and Family Counselor, and being a Municipal Youth Officer for a Shire Council. These work experiences gave me valuable skills in planning, submission writing for funding, budgeting, programming, marketing, networking and evaluating.
For variety I also worked for brief periods as a house plasterer, a boat salesperson, and a TV series actor.
I hope the above helps present a clearer picture of who I am, but more importantly of the skills that I have developed over the years which will be able to be utilised as an elected councilor.

Bypass

I am all for the early construction of the Muswellbrook bypass. Even though it isn't Councils construction task, they do have the task of pressuring the relevant authorities as much as they can for an early completion. It will take all the truck and heavy vehicle traffic out of Muswellbrook's main streets which will be a major advantage in terms of noise reduction and general safety along the main streets. With the highway going along Muswellbrook's main streets it makes it hard for people to hear each other talk, and hard to cross from one side of the street to the other, as trucks rumble by; The main street is suffering from lack of pedestrian traffic, with three more shops to close soon.

Our Council has said they cant do any improvements to Bridge street until after the bypass is built. However, there is much they can do now. The footpaths can be widened, not shrunk when the bypass comes. So that means that we can improve the areas from the shop fronts to the gutters now. More seating for a start. Have you noticed how Tamworth has plenty of seating, arranged in twos at an angle to each other? We could do something similar now..

I grew up in Albury on the Victoria/NSW border and after leaving High School did my Diploma of Youth work course in Melbourne for three years. Back them there was no Freeway linking Albury and Melbourne all the way like it does now. When it was being built the small towns that the old Hume Highway passed through were predicting doom and gloom. The towns did initially suffer for the next few years with some service stations closing down. But then the main streets of these bypassed towns improved, as the local townspeople shopped in town more. They discovered that it was safer and more pleasant, rather than driving to a nearby town off the Highway to do their shopping. The other interesting thing they found was that people did not like driving non-stop for three hours on the new Hume Freeway between Albury and Melbourne. People turned off the Freeway into towns for a meal or snack break, to buy a cup of coffee, to let the kids use a local playground, to see the tourist sites. So new businesses opened up in these bypassed towns- coffee shops, craft shops etc. So yes, lets bring on the Muswellbrook Bypass as soon as possible, but lets make sure that the entrances into Muswellbrook off the Bypass are easy to navigate so that travellers can come into Muswellbrook if they desire to. And lets promote tourism in Muswellbrook more.