Announcing becoming a Candidate for Colac Otway Shire
- Tina Hill
- Oct 18, 2024
- 3 min read
Authrised by T. Hill
PO Box 135
Colac VIC 3250
Candidate focused on shire’s improvement
Contact the author
by Naomi Newcombe September 30, 2024
With more than 25 years of experience in the disability and mental health field, multiple volunteer positions and a love for supporting all generations in the community, Colac resident Tina Hill has put her hand up to become a Colac Otway Shire councillor.
Tina is one of 18 candidates currently seeking election to fill the seven vacant councillor positions.
Tina said she had learnt so much about council issues, from reading and watching meetings, and was encouraged by community members to continue being a great advocator.
“I thought there must be a lot of community members who would love to speak up about current issues but they for various reasons haven’t had the opportunity,” she said.
“I came to the conclusion what better way to support our community and its members than by joining our other council members to have a chance to help strive for continuous improvement for our Colac Otway Shire.”
Tina, who was born in Denmark and moved to Australia 45 years ago, officially became an Australian citizen in January and currently works as a coordinator at a before and after school care service.
Tina’s passion for the disability and mental health sector began with her children who experienced their own intellectual disabilities and mental health issues. Tina chose to educate herself in these areas which has led to her passion for inclusion and diversity.
“I love supporting children, youth and their families however I can,” Tina said.
“I’m also very passionate about individuals having social activities and social support more readily available for all age groups and abilities, we don’t have a lot of social activities for our children and youth in Colac.”
Tina said Colac Otway Shire needed more childcare including outside school hours care, increased rail services to and through Colac and to promote Colac and the networking communities to increase tourism which would support local businesses and boost the economy.
Having spent time in her youth homeless as well as coming across people experiencing homelessness in her case manager role, Tina is passionate about the need for accessible and affordable housing.
“There is definitely a major shortage in our community,” she said.
“I believe a priority should be to ensure the community has enough housing available which is affordable both for short and long term.”
If elected as a councillor, Tina said she would listen to the community, advise where she could and support others when possible.
“I believe everyone has a right to be heard, included and respected regardless of who they are, their background and beliefs,” she said.
“If I can’t help then I’m honest about it and try to guide them to where they may get the support they need.”
Tina believes a councillor should be honest, approachable and an active listener that doesn’t make promises they can’t keep.
“They need to be realistic; they can’t fix everything, they need to listen to the community and work and collaborate with the other council members and realise everything takes time and not everything can be done,” Tina said.
“They also can’t take everything personally, being a council member isn’t about them it’s about the community as a whole.”
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