A sixth generation East Gippslander is throwing his hat in the ring to challenge Tim Bull at the forthcoming state election.

As an aspiring Independent candidate for Gippsland East, Matt Stephenson is enthusiastic about taking on the big parties at the upcoming November 24 polls.

Matt becomes the third candidate to publically announce their intention to stand, joining incumbent Tim Bull and the ALP’s Mark Reeves in the race.

Currently managing a local motel and working part-time as a natural resource management consultant, Matt brings 20 years of experience working with community groups across the state and has a strong focus on action and tangible outcomes.

Matt strongly contends that the capacity of East Gippsland to grow and prosper is there for the taking “but we need to take grassroots community along for the ride – we need to be part of this journey – not at the back seat of the bus, but driving it”.

Matt said that his plan for wresting the seat from the Nationals’ Tim Bull was all about inclusion.

“I want to demonstrate real leadership, to work with communities to provide solutions that are best for them - not political parties.”

After two decades working on federal, state and local government funded projects, Matt said he has accumulated vast experience, particularly in the natural resource management sector.

He is a former chairman of both the Victorian Landcare Network and the Weed Society of Victoria and is also a member of the Leaps and Bounds Learning Network under the auspices of the Victorian Rabbit Action Network.

Matt has worked regularly as a community facilitator on projects such as post bushfire and Landcare group rejuvenation forums and most recently has managed projects in RAMSAR listed Corner Inlet, the Dandenongs and Central Gippsland.

He is a statewide winner of Landcare and Correctional Services awards and was a  nominee at the National Landcare Awards in Canberra.

He was integral in sourcing funding for over 25 community based projects and was recognised by the Victorian Landcare Council for approaching the Federal Government for significant funding currently being allocated to feral cat control in the Port Phillip Catchment Management Authority area.

Matt is the only project manager in the state to work on all four of Victoria’s community pest management taskforces - serrated tussock, blackberry, gorse and rabbits.
Between 2005 and 2015 Matt wrote management strategies and operational plans for the Bass Coast Landcare Network and South Gippsland Community Weeds Taskforce.

“People often think of my work at Landcare as being an on-ground position, but we spent a lot of time training farmers and contractors in environmental best practice courses, developing management plans, producing promotional material including DVD’s and newsletters and organised conferences, field days, workshops and seminars,” he said.

“This experience places me in a good position to more readily understand the basic needs of this region and its communities and to take them along with me in meeting those needs with purpose and enthusiasm.”

PICTURED: Independent candidate for Gippsland East, Matt Stephenson (second from right), and fellow attendees at the launch of ‘Lanka Landcare’. Matt was an Australian Landcare delegate at the ceremony.