Judy Ireland has decided to take on a new challenge and stand in the upcoming elections for East Gippsland Shire Council.
Judy has been a resident of East Gippsland since 1981, arriving as a young person with lots of energy and enthusiasm.
When not being the senior occupational therapist in Bairnsdale, Judy was windsurfing on the Gippsland Lakes, being a committee member of the Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club and treading the boards with the Lakes Entrance Music and Drama Group.
“A love of the rural lifestyle and enjoyment of the natural beauty of East Gippsland has made this area a wonderful place to settle down, raise two children and call home,” Judy said.
Judy lives with her husband, John, on a rural property in Clifton Creek.
Together with neighbours, Judy is a member of a local FUNCI (Friends of Upper Nicholson Catchment) Landcare group. She is part of a community that cares deeply about the natural environment and is working to ensure that all our children and grandchildren can also enjoy the beauty of nature.
Judy’s working background as an occupational therapist in both the public and private sector has brought her into contact with many people across East Gippsland.
“Over the past 30 years I have built up a very successful private clinic in Bairnsdale providing therapy for children and advocating for the supports and services needed to make a positive difference in their lives,” she said.
“In 2022 I decided to retire, but I have recently returned to working one day per week in Orbost.”
Following the Black Summer Bushfires which impacted Judy and John’s property, she became involved with the Clifton Creek Community Recovery Team, writing grant submissions for the hall and tennis club, assisting at functions and consulting with the community re future goals and plans. The booklet Clifton Creek Recovery Looking to the Future is one of the team’s recent achievements. She is also busy being the president of the Clifton Creek Tennis Club.
Judy is standing for local council elections in East Gippsland on a platform of ‘Listening, Caring, Doing’. She is aiming to bring a positive energy to council by:
– Listening: All voices matter. Judy will be seeking out ideas, opinions and concerns. She is organising to visit a range of community groups and to be available to meet people from across the region. She has a background of listening to clients in her work and listening to community members in her role as a community volunteer.
– Caring: Judy has a strong commitment to caring for people. Her working life has been as a caring health professional, with experience working with adults requiring rehabilitation and support at home, as well as more recently focusing on children and families with additional needs. She has also spent many voluntary hours offering support to community organisations to help develop and provide services. In these difficult times families, young people, older people, our indigenous community, local businesses and those with financial, health and social hardship are struggling. Judy will be looking at ways that local government can provide targeted support to those experiencing hardship.
– Doing: Judy has always been a busy active person who likes to get things done. She has managed her own successful business and, as a volunteer, has successfully applied for many community grants. Judy will be supporting decision-making that reflects current knowledge, proven facts and efficient, effective use of funds. Council strategies should focus resources on getting the important things done. Judy will be endeavouring to put into action the priorities that have been identified by the community, seeking ongoing community consultation as part of the process.
Judy urges all East Gippslanders to watch out for the ballot papers which will be mailed out in early October and encourages everyone to make sure their vote counts.
