Name: Kerry Noelene Cassells.
Age: 68.
Status: Married to Peter Noble. We have four children, Dane, Taryn, Rua and Alex, and my daughter Petrina.
Current or past employment, retired or otherwise:
For 51 years I was in the nursing profession and for 23 years I was a justice health nurse working in a police cell. I remain the longest-serving in this profession. I have worked at Pius X Aboriginal Medical Service, Toomelah Medical Service, Moree District Hospital, Westmead Hospital and Auburn District hospital. I am now retired and owner of Cut Above Fitness Centre.
How long have you lived in the Moree shire?
I have lived in the shire for the past 63 years. I spent five years living in Sydney doing my general and midwifery courses, but always came home for my holidays while my colleagues ventured overseas. I couldn’t wait to come home.
What part of the shire do you live?
I live in east Moree.
How long did you sit as a councillor on MPSC?
I was a councillor from 2016 to 2021.
What are the main reasons you are standing for re-election?
I wanted to get back on council to get previous projects up and running and to find out where the grant funding money has been spent.
I want to be a voice for all of our community and shire villagers.
I truly don’t believe our community is being represented as they should be.
You go on council to do, as a collective nine, the best you can for all shire residents.
Their voices and concerns are the reason for being on council. Making Moree great in the eyes of community is a must.
Yes, we have problems and it’s a challenge, but, we should do everything possible to ensure we are seen in a positive light.
Council needs to always be transparent in all dealings and decisions, run meetings properly, confer decisions to our community, have development applications in a timelier manner, and to always be prepared to listen to our community.
Are you standing alone or with a running mate(s)?
I am standing alone, but there are other candidates running who are like-minded. Together, if elected, will be a very well-rounded council.
What do you love most about Moree Plains Shire?
What I love most about Moree and villages is the uniqueness. There are so many differences that come together to make it a great place to live. You can always find work in our town. Plenty of work. That’s why we attract so many people from all over the globe.
There are so many opportunities, not just employment, but there is also sport of all kinds.
Moree breeds great sportsmen and women.
Our beautiful weather, our tourism, our accommodation for holiday-makers, for short- and long-term workers, outstanding eateries, cafes and restaurants and, most importantly, our friendliness and tolerance.
What do you think the main issues are in Moree at the moment that need addressing?
Crime is a major concern. What are you views on this?
Crime and predominantly youth crime is a major issue for our town.
The negative effect it has in the media, the tourism issues, people feeling afraid to stop in our town because of this pandemic of youth and other crimes and people feeling scared in our town is just plain wrong.
I held a gathering at the courthouse in February to address these issues when nobody else would.
This prompted the Premier to take the reins and come to our town.
The police are doing a brilliant job but are often hamstrung by soft judicial punishments.
We want to avidly promote our district but it is difficult when we have recurring crimes and recidivist offenders plaguing our great town.
Do you think the current council is aiming in the right direction on various projects and/or issues?
I do not think this current council gave the proper credence to our main, overlying issues.
Particularly when many consistently ran the previous council down regarding the pool and were going to perform miracles and get it opened promptly.
Well it’s been two years and nine months and it’s further behind. Why? When I left council it was going out to tender.
Other projects are at a standstill as well.
How can the current council improve on what it is doing at the moment? Is money being spent on the right projects and in the right areas?
Council needs to work together to get projects back on track, reinstate all committees with community involvement, try to attract businesses in the main street so our residents can shop locally and not rely solely on on-line buying, use local contractors that understand our black soil, and training of staff to fill positions such as grader operators, backhoe operators, electricians, plumbers, horticulturalists, road maintenance and administrative staff.
How do you think MPSC performed in the last term? What projects have been delivered and is it meeting targets?
I firmly believe the current council did not perform well at all and certainly did not meet any targets.
What do you think have been MPSC’s biggest achievements in the past five years?
Being involved with Inland Rail and the Special Activation Precinct has helped the town.
Maintaining our good relationship with Qantas deserves credit as does getting business to the Gateway Project.
New water supplies for Biniguy and Boggabilla, new water-cooling systems installed for Mungindi, Also, the cross-border relationship with Goondiwindi with me as the councillor on the cross-border safety committee that dealt with cross-border crime issues.
A new truck wash at the sale yards, upgrades at the waste management facility, approving grants and giving financial donations for the betterment of Moree and the villages, having advisory committees for the pool, (MAAC) and memorial hall upgrades, and working with the urban advisory committee to get upgrades in the main street and highways beautification are also pluses.
Has there been any disappointments?
Rates were put up twice in the last two years at a time when ratepayers and everyone else is struggling to put food on the table and pay the bills.
The main issues are the high cost of living, urban and rural roads, rates, limited retail outlets for men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, unfinished projects that affect the community like the pool and memorial hall.
What will be you main goals and targets if re-elected?
One of my main goals, if elected, will be to work with the other councillors to improve our status, as I believe council has lost the confidence of the shire.
We need to get involved again with health, education, mental health and crime prevention.
Using all methods to improve our position of positivity and not negativity, being inclusive and not exclusive.
Make newcomers welcome with incentives to attract doctors, nurses, ancillary staff and business people to our town and hold regular forums and meetings on various subjects that everyone can attend.
Overall, council needs to be consistent, constructive and productive.
What local organisations are you involved with at the moment?
I am involved with Moree Junior Rugby League Club as secretary. Our club was named the NRL Community Club of the Year in 2023, which is a huge achievement for our club and town.
I am also involved with Moree Little Athletics, where we have many outstanding athletes who have gone on to represent Moree at State Championships at Olympic Park in Sydney.
I had been a volunteer for Moree junior rugby union, Central North junior rugby union, NSW country junior rugby union and NSW junior rugby union.
I was the founding member of the Compassionate Friends in Moree. A support group for families who have lost babies and children and a founding member of the support group, Family and Friends of Ice Users, the only one of its kind in Australia.
I am also the treasurer for Moree Labor and Northern Tablelands SEC.
What are your pastimes, hobbies or passions?
My passions are my family and grandchildren.
I go to all the athletics carnivals of my grandchildren in Moree, regionals and state championships and attend all their rugby league games, touch games and basketball games.
I enjoy speaking to young people about their lives, dreams and hopes for their future, music, hobbies and education.
Basically, I enjoy talking to anyone that wants to have a yarn.
I love reading, watching Poirot, Miss Marple, Blood in the Wire, Endeavour, Grantchester, Bridgerton, Queen Charlotte, Sanditon and Belgravia to name just a few.
I enjoy watching and reading anything political. I am my father’s daughter, after all.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I love Moree and surrounds and want to work with the other councillors, if elected, to make our town great again.
Footnote: Questions to candidates differ slightly, given the mix is made up of current councillors seeking re-election, past councillors seeking re-election and first-timers seeking election.
More on this candidate here: https://moreeonlinenews.com.au/2024/08/23/kerry-cassells-mpsc-candidate
