October-November 2025

The first half of October was a whirlwind of campaign details. I kept existing obligations to attend the Walpole-Nornalup National Parks Association Bioblitz, spent time weeding in Samson Park with the Friends of Samson Park, attended Simon Batley's book launch, checked out the launch of Ripple Brewing, went to the Freo Farmers Market a few times, sat in on a biodiversity webinar with Carbon Positive, helped out at Fremantle College's breakfast club once a week, participated in professional development on Advocacy with the Health Consumers' Council, watched 'The World's Longest City' with the film maker and hosted a party for my campaign volunteers. On October 19th it was confirmed that I had won the campaign and would now be an Elected Member of City of Fremantle Council! Meetings and inductions began and life carried on. I had a routine mammogram, attended the funeral of an amazing, much loved 98 yr old, had community conversations about the climate crisis, clean energy and degrowth, attended my daughter's graduation from high school, enjoyed a Diwali morning tea, attended Precinct meetings, volunteered with Reconciliation WA for the Walk for Reconciliation at Galup, and attended eight inductions, briefings and meetings for Council business and a dinner for outgoing Council representatives.

November has been busy, and I'm accepting it as my new normal. It began with a choir performance, more Council inductions, briefings and meetings, more weeding in Samson Park, a deep dive with the History Library to find when a tree had been planted, continued with the revitalised Beaconsfield Precinct meeting, attended the Community Arts Network annual conference, the opening of Biennale, visited the Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre to see the Theo Koning exhibit, attended ChangeFest, dropped in to see what the new Town Team Freo.DOC is planning, attended the Australian Girls Choir annual concert, caught up with (one of) my bookclubs at City Farm and saw the art performance of Vespers as part of Biennale. So far in November we have had Council briefings with the City Planning department regarding developments going to the state Development Assessment Panel and the Pier 21 application to DBCA, Development WA about their projects in Freo, as well as updates on Walyalup Koort artwork, the Samson Park Masterplan, the Outdoor Events Policy, Waste management and housing initiatives. I'm looking forward to Wardarnji this evening and the Cockitrough launch in Grigg park on Sunday.