Greening Local Government in Glen Eira- press release

Am certainly proud to be part of such a talented group!
More information can be found at the Glen Eira Greens site in links opposite.

Greening Local Government in Glen Eira
The Greens are excited to be fielding a record number of candidates for the City of Glen Eira Council elections to be held in October this year. Neil Pilling, current Rosstown ward Councillor and City of Glen Eira Deputy Mayor, is standing again and is joined by Wilmars Mikelsons also for Rosstown ward, Thomas Sounness for Camden ward, and Rose Read and Brett Hedger for Tucker ward. With such a strong line-up of endorsed Greens candidates, The Greens are optimistic of gaining extra positions on Council and working to build a better Council for the City of Glen Eira.

Bayside-Glen Eira branch co-convenor, Jeannie Marsh, said ‘the Greens have endorsed a solid team of candidates representing a wealth of talent and a strong commitment to the people of Glen Eira’. Candidates come from a varied range of backgrounds and together have experience in areas including education, business, community services, urban planning and more. Most have lived in the City of Glen Eira for many years and some have raised families in the area. All are well connected to their local community and regularly interact with other residents through volunteer work with community service, educational and sporting organisations, and by participating in local activities such as dog walking groups.

‘The Bayside-Glen Eira branch of the Greens is thrilled to be putting forward such a strong team for the upcoming Council election’ Ms Marsh said, adding that she is ‘confident that residents will welcome the opportunity to make a difference in Glen Eira by electing Greens Councillors who are committed to the community and to delivering healthy, safe and liveable neighbourhoods’.

For further information and comment, please contact the candidates directly.
See additional candidate comments and contact details below.
Additional Candidate Comments and Contacts

Neil Pilling - Candidate for Rosstown ward
Mobile: 0418 310 631
Email: neil.pilling@vic.greens.org.au

Neil Pilling, who has been a member of Council since 2008, says that ‘being the first Greens Councillor elected in Glen Eira has been both rewarding and challenging’. His strong advocacy on a range of environmental, social and economic issues has seen Glen Eira take important steps forward in delivering improved and progressive community focused policies. He is proud to have also contributed to delivering great new community and sporting facilities like GESAC and the new Duncan McKinnon Pavilion. A special emphasis for Cr Pilling is ‘ensuring facilities, services and parklands are improved through sound planning for people and our environment’. He is committed to listening to residents and acting on community concerns and is ‘looking forward to the next term and the exciting potential that the election of more Greens Councillors will bring!’

Wilmars Mikensons - Candidate for Rosstown ward
Mobile: 0425 772 228
Email: wilmars.mikelsons@vic.greens.org.au

Wilmars Mikelsons has lived in Glen Eira for more than 20 years, is a teacher at a local secondary school and has raised his family here. His three children have attended local schools and participated in local sporting clubs. He is a keen gardener, loves cycling and watching his son play junior footy and basketball. He says Glen Eira is a great place to live, and is running for council because he believes that ‘a strong community voice is needed to ensure Council retains and improves facilities, services and parks’. He is committed to ‘listening and acting on community concerns; supporting families, young and old, with well planned and needed services; enhancing the health of our community and environment; and retaining and improving the Carnegie Pool’.

Thomas Sounness – Candidate for Camden ward
Mobile: 0438 499 680
Email: thomas.sounness@vic.greens.org.au

Greens candidate for Camden ward, Thomas Sounness, believes Green representation on Council will contribute to healthy, safe and liveable suburbs. He has wide experience in urban planning, small business development, international trade, farming and IT. He lives in South Caulfield, where he can be seen taking his dog on daily walks. Mr Sounness also enjoys gardening and volunteers his time to assist frail and disabled residents with their gardens. Mr Sounness said he is ‘committed to building social and environmental resilience’ and believes that ‘to achieve this, and to maintain the City’s liveability, foresight and good planning is needed’. He is committed to work hard to ‘support access to valuable social services; rejuvenate and revitalise our characteristic retail centres; prevent waste and improve Council transparency and effectiveness’. ‘I’m also committed to supporting better, more efficient and effective transport options in the City’ he said.

Rose Read – Candidate for Tucker ward
Mobile: 0409 132 338
Email: rose.read@vic.greens.org.au

Rose Read is an active community member and resident of Bentleigh. She is a representative on Council’s Environment Committee and works with local government and businesses across Melbourne to improve energy efficiency. She is also an experienced manager of services for children and families. Ms Read said ‘I love living in Bentleigh, where I raised my family and know the community well’. ‘We need a lively, engaged and healthy community for everyone,’ she said. She is standing as a Greens candidate for Council because she wants ‘to see a council that listens and works with community members to improve planning for people and the environment’. She is committed to ‘expanding childcare and kindergartens in the area; actively involving residents in neighbourhood planning and services; providing more open space, adventurous playgrounds and events for all ages; and ensuring better access to activities and services for older residents’.

Brett Hedger – Candidate for Tucker ward
Mobile: 0448 560595
Email: Brett.Hedger@vic.greens.org.au

Brett Hedger is a qualified accountant, teacher, IT specialist and sustainability professional who lives in McKinnon with his sons. ‘Community service is a high priority for me and I am ready for the challenge of representing our community’, he said. He believes ‘our city needs a clear vision that guides and shapes all our futures’ and that ‘our city needs to be safe, clean and healthy’. He has pledged to work hard to ‘create a Council that works in harmony with the community; to improve public transport; preserve and expand our open spaces; and balance the needs of development with preserving neighbourhood character’.