Consultation key for candidate
Riverside’s Susie Relouw believes ‘listening skills’ are an undervalued asset – one she would bring to Horsham Rural City Council should she taste success in next year’s local government elections.
The businesswoman, electoral officer and mother of five has launched her electoral campaign on social media with the platform, ‘consult, listen, act’.
Mrs Relouw said it was natural for people to disagree when making decisions, but it was how they dealt with the process that mattered.
“For me, it is about respect,” she said.
“If you give people an opportunity to voice their concerns and you listen properly and reflect back to them that you understand what they are saying, more often than not you can get to a point of compromise, or at least agree to disagree.
“I believe the council should function as a team. I think it’s great that councillors share their views – and the council has done some really great things – but I think conflicting views need to be dealt with inside of the chamber.”
Mrs Relouw said she was not put off by reports of councillor conflict or a potential mass exodus of current councillors at the end of their term in October.
“I deal with conflict really well,” she said.
“Hopefully we get a few new people into the positions so we can all bring our different strengths and put forward different points of view.
“I think a few of the current councillors will decide to stay and I hope they do, because that knowledge is gold.
“For a new councillor, it will be a steep learning curve. Either way, I like a challenge.”
Mrs Relouw, who runs Newman’s Insurance Agency from Riverside, said she did not make the decision to run for council lightly.
She said believing she could make a difference to the community, a desire to give back and an ‘abundance’ of free time now her children – aged from 29 to 19 – had moved away to work or study, helped tip the scales.
“No longer having five children at home makes a big difference. I’m not a taxi any more at all times of the day and night,” she said.
“I like to be busy. I run my own insurance company, I run an Airbnb and I’m an electoral officer at Emma Kealy’s office.
“If I’m not busy, I’ll find something to do. So, I thought about joining council and decided, it’s now or never.”
Mrs Relouw said working for Ms Kealy, Member for Lowan, had opened up her eyes to politics.
“She is incredibly busy and motivated. It is a great environment to work in,” she said.
“My eldest son is a media and communications manager for Senator Jane Hume.
“He has said to me a couple of times, ‘Mum, you really should give this a go because you’d be great at it’.”
Widespread community response to a controversial Horsham City to River masterplan also contributed to Mrs Relouw’s decision.
“Obviously there has been a lot of discussion going on and a lot of different opinions, but to have a community that is so passionate is really motivating,” she said.
“I don’t think it was made clear at the start that it was a vision document.
“I think when it came out most people thought it was the plan and it had been made without any real consultation.
“At the time, I was disappointed, but now that I understand it was a vision document I think differently about it.
“To me, you consult, you listen and then you act.” Mrs Relouw said rates, roads, infrastructure development and health care were among her key issues.
She has encouraged Horsham Rural City residents and ratepayers to share their key issues with her.
“I have put up a Facebook page called ‘Susie for HRCC’. It’s not completely ready, but I really want to hear from constituents about what they want from councillors,” she said.
“I want to hear what they think is good, what they think is bad and what they would like to see change.
“I’m hoping through Facebook and social media I can get that conversation happening. I think it’s very important that all aspects of the community have a voice.”
Mrs Relouw said community engagement was a key part of her platform, but stressed it was something she would continue to push even if she were elected.
“I want to stay engaged and I want to be accessible to people,” she said.
“Some people are reserved about coming forward, but I think if you can make a person feel comfortable, you’re doing your job.”
Mrs Relouw is the second person to speak about their intention to stand for council elections with The Weekly Advertiser, following former police officer, public servant and now counsellor Brian Basham.
Victorian council elections will be on Saturday, October 24.
People can contact their council for more information or to enrol.