The Kiama Greens’ team for the Council election on 4 September has women in the top four spots on their ticket.

The ticket is being led by Kathy Rice, who has been a councillor for nine years. During that time, she has been the only woman on Council.

Deputy Mayor Andrew Sloan, a Greens councillor who is not standing again due to work commitments, says, “Kathy has been a reliable, informed and reasoned presence on Council, she is driven by her passion for liveable communities and environmental protection.” 

Cllr Rice, a retired teacher, is a science graduate with post-graduate qualifications in health promotion. She has recently graduated from the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and has been Deputy Mayor. She is a strong advocate for the Healthy Cities Illawarra program.

“For a sustainable future, it is vital to protect our environment, acknowledge and act to reduce climate change and protect our farmlands from overdevelopment," she says.

“I will work to protect our natural environment which is ecologically critical and provides wellbeing and resilience to all.

“I am looking forward to working alongside like-minded councillors to improve Council’s transparency and responsiveness to the community.”

At the last election, the Greens gained 23.95 per cent of the vote, entitling them to 2.4 places on council through the quota system. This was second only to the 25.7 per cent of the vote gained Mark Honey’s group, which saw him and Mark Westhoff elected.

Taking second place on the ticket this election is Jodi Keast, who has lived in Kiama for over 21 years and stood lower down on the Greens ticket in 2016.

A certified practising accountant, with an MBA, Ms Keast has worked as a Manager at the Kiama Community College since 2013 and has been Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors of Grand Pacific Health Ltd (GPH) since 2014. GPH is a not-for-profit organisation that delivers mental health services, preventative health services, aboriginal health services and operates two primary health clinics.

“I am passionate about ensuring change is driven by and for our community,” she says.

“As a councillor I will actively listen to Kiama residents; protect our precious land, water, plants, and animals; plan for our future social, financial, and cultural needs; respond to climate change; and act to improve the wellbeing of our community.”

The next in line on the ticket is Tanya George, a secondary science teacher who is active in local Landcare and has history of advocating for the Minnamurra River environment. She has a degree in nutrition, with qualifications in conservation and land management, animal husbandry and business administration.

The other members of the Greens team are: Crystal Wilson, a medical student with a strong commitment to the environment and a focus on mental, rural, and Indigenous health; long time environmental campaigner Warren Holder, a retired teacher who is President of the Gerroa Environment Protection Society; and Ken Sandy, a retired scientist and company director committed to openness and transparency in Council and protection of biodiversity.

The Kiama Greens website has further information about the candidates, their policies and commentary on the campaign.