I still reside in the electorate where I cast my first vote as an eighteen-year-old and I recall voting for Greens candidate Susie Russell here during those early adult years.
As for my journey to finally joining the Greens, I remember managing to find a contact number for the Greens when I was in my mid-twenties and calling up to express an interest in being involved. At the time I was told that I might need to travel to Bellingen to participate in an active group… but coming from Port Macquarie, that was a bit too far so it would be another few years after this when I finally discovered and joined my local group which was named the 3 Rivers Greens at the time.
Thinking about my family and upbringing, it’s easy to understand why the Greens have always been a natural fit and home for me. I would describe my fathers influence as having shaped my views on environmental justice and I would attribute my keen senses for seeking social justice to my mother.
I have fond memories of my ocean-loving father encouraging myself and my siblings to have consideration and respect for nature and he would allow us to carefully explore beaches and rock pools but to always gently put things back how we found them. He also had us regularly cleaning up any rubbish we found, especially after holiday makers who would often camp and leave their cans and bottles behind near the beaches. I tell people that my dad had us doing Clean Up Australia Day before it officially started in 1990 when I was 10 years old.
My early life experiences at school and chats with my mother helped me to be a kind person who always befriended those that were being left out and mum helped me to develop the strong drive to seek fairness for myself and others in all situations. Music was a big part of our household too and I realise that there were many great lyrics and my young ears were listening to that spoke of social and environmental justice issues.
When I was 16 years old my dad ended his life and I was thrown into survival mode for many years to follow. I soon came to realise that it is often those that care the most who seem to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders and therefore also often suffer the most.
At 22 I became a mum and a couple of years later I became a single mother. Even though I had no support from family or friends myself, I recall realising how important it is that parents feel supported so that they can do their best job of parenting and so, I joined a volunteer group and on the one day a week that my daughter went to family daycare, I would go and meet with other parents of young children who were feeling isolated and in need of friendship. I seemed to understand that healthy communities are more likely to exist when positive early intervention and support are available to those raising the next generation, especially those early childhood years.
My own walk of life led me to know that we need diversity of lived experience involved in decision-making and I have always felt that the Greens live and breathe this notion, so here I am 😊