Midya Bari, Anna Gannon, Rory McKenzie, Sam Avo and Aunty Gail Manderson are Supporting Diversity. Photo: Supplied.
Rory McKenzie is one of a growing number of fresh candidates putting their hand up ahead of September’s local government elections.
The Wagga solicitor is a former ADF combat medic and a proud Wiradjuri man and leads the Supporting Diversity group.
He said this would be his second tilt at a council seat.
“I ran in 2021 with Rod Kendall, who was a good mentor, and as someone who’s been in local government for such a long time, he was able to show us how things happen,” he said.
Cr Kendall confirmed last week that he will not be standing for reelection, leaving two open seats after Cr Dan Hayes stepped down last year.
“I wish Rod all the best and think this is an opportunity for some new faces to come into council,” said Mr McKenzie.
“I hope that it is representative of the community, whether that’s female voices or Aboriginal candidates like myself.”
Aunty Yvonne Gilchrist is the only Wiradjuri person to have served on Wagga City Council after being elected in 1999.
Mr McKenzie is the chairperson of the Riverina Medical and Dental Aboriginal Corporation (Rivmed Board) and is joined on the ticket by Wiradjuri woman Anna Gannon and well-known local elder Aunty Gail Manderson.
“Aunty Gail has been so supportive of myself and the group and she’s really keen to see us do well,” he said.
“I think we have a really good group this year with Sam Avo, who’s really well known in the African community and Midya Bari who’s a Yazidi refugee who was forced to flee her home and came here for a better life.
“We’re all just community people wanting to make a difference.”
With cost-of-living pressures taking their toll, Mr McKenzie said it was important for council to support the community with more than just ‘roads, rates and rubbish’.
“I think that local government can certainly have a big impact in advocating for change, especially in housing and even domestic violence,” he said.
“As a lawyer, I know there are issues with the rates of AVOs that are handed out throughout the court, and I know it’s not just one single factor and there is an intersection between drugs and alcohol in the community and gambling and housing that all spills into one big issue.
“We know with the growth over in Gobba that getting a bridge is a big issue along with the airport and the trouble we’re seeing now with Rex as well, so our group will also be advocating for better services and speaking up on issues that impact the community.”
The NSW local government elections will be held on Saturday 14 September.
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