Mason acts at home
Humanitarian to be inclusive for council run
AFTER 25 years of humanitarian work in war-torn countries and disaster zones, the Bellarine Peninsula’s Jim Mason will concentrate his attention closer to home by running for Geelong council.
The Marcus Hill farmer declared his candidacy yesterday, launching a website to promote his campaign promise to “listen, consult and act”.
A Labor Party member, Mr Mason was raised on the Bellarine, and returned there in 2006, two years before he and his wife, Lynne, were awarded Orders of Australia for their work overseas.
“It’s been said, ‘think global and act local’, so that’s what I’m trying to do,” he said.
“People have lost some faith in council, but hopefully I can make a contribution to provide stable, cohesive teamwork.”
Mr Mason said he had become increasingly interested in the workings of the City of Greater Geelong in recent years through his involvement in Landcare, and taking part in the municipality’s Our Future consultations.
He said the Drysdale land- fill and future of the Moolap wetlands were also issues he had been following.
With an engineering qualification from the Gordon and a Master of Arts Degree (International Relations) at Deakin University, Mr Mason lists “sustainability, education and agriculture” among his chief interests.
Now semi-retired, he had a farm at Birregurra and taught environmental science in Colac before doing the humanitarian work that had him directing and consulting on disaster recovery missions for national governments. “People have lost some faith in council, but hopefully I can make a contribution to provide stable, cohesive teamwork.”
JIM MASON