Name: Meryl Dillon.
Age: Mature.
Status: Married to Ken. We have three children and three grandchildren.
Current or past employment, retired or otherwise:
Former farmer from Bullarah. Now self-employed, NESA, Jannison and Department of Education.
How long have you lived in the Moree shire?
Most if my life. I spent my childhood in Gwydir Shire.
My childhood was in Croppa Creek, now part of Gwydir Shire, and since then I have lived in Moree Plains.
What part of the shire do you live?
We live on the western edge of Moree and have interests at Bullarah and South Moree.
What are the main reasons you are standing for council?
I want to offer my experience, knowledge and understanding of the community to help make the Moree Plains Shire a better place to live.
Moree has a number of serious challenges to face at the moment and therefore the new Council will need to be ready to step up to the mark.
We need to get all the flood damage funding out to our road network. We need to get all the unfinished projects like the pool, Memorial Hall, pound, saleyards, Boomerangs’ clubhouse and Mungindi sportsground finalised because there are so many others that need to be addressed.
These include a new Dhiiyaan Centre for Aboriginal Culture and a cycle venue, but most of all we need to ensure the Premier’s initiative on youth crime works and that organisations are accountable, so the situation improves for the community.
Are you standing alone or with a running mate(s)?
Alone.
What do you love most about Moree Plains Shire?
The community. How people are so generous and helpful.
What do you think the main issues are in Moree that need addressing? Crime is a major concern. What are your views on this?
Moree has dropped the ball on the issue of community safety.
How long has it been since there was a serious community safety committee meeting involving council?
I used to chair this committee. People were expected to show up and put up. Unfortunately, senior members of government departments are not based in Moree, and we need to reverse this trend.
Everyone needs to be held accountable. It starts before school age. We can’t wait until problems occur and then try and fix them.
Moree has the highest rates of a number of crimes particularly domestic violence. This is something we should not allow.
Do you think the current council is aiming in the right direction on various projects and/or issues?
While we need economic development, it won’t happen unless we fix the social issues.
They go hand-in-hand. Councilors need to participate more in the community and understand the needs of the whole shire.
We can’t allow sectors to miss out. Also, there are a number of unfinished projects which are having a very detrimental effect on the community.
How can the current council improve on what it is doing at the moment? Is money being spent on the right projects?
Any Council has to have a good knowledge of the community. The council needs to be proactive in engaging the community. People like to feel they are being listened to and their needs responded to.
There are a number of unfinished projects which need to be fixed.
The community needs to be consulted on what their needs are. Items on my wish-list include a new Dhiiyaan Centre, a cycle venue, a youth hostel, a cinema, and more public art including painting our water towers across the shire, a pool at Boggabilla, and possibly a sculpture walk.
If we don’t have these things we will be overtaken by more progressive shires.
Has the current council disappointed the people of Moree? If so, how?
Feedback from across the Shire is that the condition of the roads is appalling. We need to get the roads fixed as soon as possible.
There is the issue of community safety. Previously there have been programs implemented to address some problems.
What local organisations are you involved with at the moment?
I am co-chair of the Moree Reconciliation Group; life member of the Isolated Children’s Parents Association; life member of Miyay Birray Youth Service; member of the Community Reference Group of the Phase 2 Narrabri to North Star Inland Rai; and member of the (Murray Darling ) Northern Basin Regional Community Forum.
What are your pastimes, hobbies or passions?
Family, community and gardening.
Have you had any previous roles, either as an employee or volunteer in local, state or federal government?
Previously, member Northern Inland Regional Development Australia committee; interim chair Northern Inland Regional Development Australia committee; chair New England North West Regional Development committee; deputy chair NSW Ministerial Advisory Council Regional Development; member Northern Plains Advisory committee National Parks; member and deputy chair New England Area Health Service board; member Border Rivers Gwydir Catchment Management committee; acting chair Border Rivers Gwydir Local Establishment Team of CMA; member Gwydir Regulated, Unregulated and Groundwater Management committees;
member Namoi Unregulated River Management committees; member and chair Narrabri Advisory committee National Parks and Wildlife; member Border Rivers Unregulated and Groundwater Management committees; chair Moree Showground Trust committee; member Boobera Lagoon Reserve Trust; member RTA Moree Centre Bypass Community Consultative Committee; and
Moree Plains Shire Councillor (1995-2008).
Also chair of Moree Plains Shire Council committees including Traffic Committee, Crime Prevention Committee, Finance Committee, Regional Library Committee and Multicultural Committee.
Previous community organisations include secretary Miyay Birray Youth Service, and Life Member Miyay Birray; committee Roy Thorne Substance Misuse Rehabilitation; committee Gwydir Home and Community Care; secretary Bullarah Primary School P&C; president and secretary Bullarah ICPA; vice-president NSW ICPA; convenor Special Education Portfolio and committee member; holder of NSW Certificate of Appreciation, publicity officer and committee member of Federal ICPA; president, secretary and life member Bullarah ICPA; and secretary Bullarah CWA.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I look forward to Moree Plains Shire having a Council that will allow it to reach its full potential and ensure no one is left behind, no matter what part of the shire you live.
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/meryl-dillon-mpsc-candidate
