Gail O'Brien to run for council

A broken system -heartbroken mum wants laws reviewed

Why have you decided to run for council?

I hadn’t thought of running but a few people suggested I should.

I am very involved in our community and have three generations of my family living here.

I care about what is good for each of those generations of my family and the others in Benalla

Day Trips: Myrlteford via Mulwala

Have you been on a local council – or similar group before? And, if so, how will that experience help you in council?

I haven’t been on a council before.

I do have a lot of management and community experience, from broad experience in the health care service in Australia and overseas as a registered nurse, to most recently at Benalla Health in community and palliative care nursing.

Inland Rail Project Working group named

Tell me a bit about yourself for those in town who might not know you?

I have been a nurse for my entire professional career.

I have three children, a son who lives in Perth, a daughter who lives in the United States with her family and a daughter who live in Benalla with her family.

My husband and I are originally from Sydney.

We have lived in Canada, the USA, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Vale Keith McNaughton: January1, 1955 – August 20, 2020

We moved to Victoria 18 years ago when my husband became head of Dookie College.

When he finished up there we decided to stay in the area because we loved living here so much, because of the great sense of community and the many friends we have made.

We lived in town for a short while, but now live on our farm on the Benalla Shepparton Rd.

Rene’s Region – the colour yellow

What policies/programs/initiatives etc would you like to work towards in the next four years if you are elected?

I am very keen for the council to move quickly on planning for a post-Covid recovery.

We need to develop a new strategic plan that has us ready to take advantage of the expected move of city people to regional towns and the growth in regional tourism.

I feel it is very important that council:

● supports local business to grow, prosper and create jobs;

● develops and supports the art gallery, Wall to Wall festival, the historical society collection;

Nicole finalist for training award

● secures our train station as a key gateway to our visitors;

● ensures we have an environmentally and financially sustainable town; and

● addresses the state of our curbs, gutters and roads in Benalla and the rural areas of the shire.

Frontline workers: Tomorrow Today Foundation

What has been your opinion of the current council/councillors during their time on council?

I don’t want to be critical of the current council, but I do feel that Benalla needs a council that is more visible, consults more proactively with the community and responds to its concerns.

Do you have anything you would like to add?

I am excited to be running for the council in a community we have made our home and which I believe has a wonderful future if it gets the leadership it needs.

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