As a resident and ratepayer, Kiama’s Camilla Kerr-Rushton asked herself, “How as a community can we get more women into Council?”

So early in January, she started the Facebook page ‘More than One in 2021’ with the aim of creating a space where anyone who wants to help get more women elected to Kiama Council in 2021 can come together.

The group is not affiliated with any political party, and Camilla may yet end up standing herself, but its main aim is to encourage more women to be elected.

“Back in November 2019 I had to speak in the Council chambers,” says Camilla.

“I looked at the gathered councillors and realised that only one of them looked like me!

“In Kiama 51 per cent of us identify as female but we only have an 11.1 per cent representation on Council.

“Really we should have a minimum of four female councillors.”

Of the nine current Kiama councillors, only one is a woman – Kathy Rice.

Cllr Rice, who has also served previously as Deputy Mayor, is keen on seeing a more diverse council.

Cathy Rice is the only woman in the current Council

She is very happy to answer questions from anyone, especially women and young people, on how to run for council and believes that the group More than One in 21 will provide a platform to do this.

She says that while working in a male-dominated chamber wasn’t itself a challenge, “To me the main issue is that men’s experience in the community differs to that of women and they don’t place the same emphasis on things that women would.

“Decisions would be more balance with greater female representation.”

Emeritus Mayor Sandra McCarthy OAM agrees and calls for more women to step up for election. Sandra served as councillor from 1995-2000, including five years as Deputy Mayor, and then Mayor of Kiama between 2000 and 2012.

During this time, she brought up three children and cared for aging parents. She says that this kind of care often falls to women and the school pickup, visits to playgrounds, the pool or aged-care facilities means they are constantly using many of council’s community services and facilities.

This often gives them a unique perspective on council issues.

“You don’t have to be a professional person or academic. But you do need to do your homework and know your facts rather than just engage in political point scoring which sometimes happens in a lazy council.

“The main thing is that you need to have a passion and real interest in making a difference in your community, wanting to contribute. You need to ensure that whatever public policy is determined, you know in your heart that is going to be in the best interest of the community.”

Camilla’s initiative comes on the back the launch by Shelley Hancock, Minister for Local Government, of an action plan to encourage more women to stand for their local council.

“We must encourage and inspire women across NSW to put their hand up and represent their communities,” Mrs Hancock says.

The Election of Women to Local Government action plan seeks to make it easier for women to serve as councillors with family-friendly council meeting times, the payment of carer’s expenses and training and mentoring programs.

Currently, less than one third of serving councillors and mayors across 128 councils in NSW are women.

The state’s Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA) would eventually like to see gender parity on these local councils.

Camilla, who works part-time, also volunteers for Rescue, Reuse, Recycle Kiama, the Fabulous Fabric Free For All and the Women’s Clothing Swap.

“People say to me, ‘You should stand for council’, and I think ‘I could never do that’. But then you look at council and think someone has to do it!”

She says, “I will stand if I can find some like-minded people (men or women) to stand with me. If out of the group of people there is a stronger woman candidate,

I will stand as No 2 in order to get her in.”

At the 2016, 10 women stood for election. In 2012, nine women stood.

“But the problem is they were all further down the ticket, supporting the No 1 candidate who was mostly male and who was then elected as a councillor,” says Camilla.

Sandra also says that women need to stand as No 1 on a ticket to ensure they get elected.

She suggests some qualities that councillors might require: be a team player, be organised, be across local issues, be prepared to do research and read reams of council business papers, be a part of your community, be a good listener to people’s concerns, be ready to praise and be ready to question reports.

For more information about standing for council see: www.olg.nsw.gov.au/public/about-councils/become-a-councillor/women-in-local-government-stand-for-your-community   

Contact Camilla through Facebook or [email protected]

ALGWA is holding its NSW conference in Shellharbour on 8-20 March. See www.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/council/nsw-algwa-conference-2021