HAVEN'S Sue Exell will stand in the Horsham Rural City Council elections.
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Mrs Exell has a long association with various community groups and played an instrumental role in the recovery of Haven, Remlaw and Drung South following the Black Saturday fires.
She believes her strong family values, leadership skills and commitment, passion for sport and recreation and her preparedness to give people and communities a hand when needed will hold her in good stead to be a councillor.
Mrs Exell and her husband Gary live in Haven, and have two daughters Breanne and Kristen.
"Taking on the role of a city councillor will come with many responsibilities but will also provide an amazing opportunity to help Horsham and all of its outlying rural communities grow and develop into the future,'' she said.
Mrs Exell worked closely with Horsham Rural City Council and other recovery groups after the fire.
She said the fire and 2010 flood highlighted the need for safer places and a community relief centre south of the Wimmera River for any future disasters.
"It has been a major learning curve and the experience will assist me in representing Horsham and district communities if elected to council,'' she said.
"The 2010 flood also had a major impact on Horsham and surrounding communities requiring good planning for the future.''
Mrs Exell said Horsham would continue to grow after the completion of major projects such as the new Dooen Freight Hub, Wimmera Trade Training Centre and stage two of the industrial estate.
"There are also many new projects to be worked on, such as the town hall and performing arts centre development, the bypass, realignment of the railway line, the Horsham North Children's Hub, rebuilding Horsham College, mineral sand mining, managing the superannuation benefit scheme and the need for a second bridge over the Wimmera River,'' she said.
Mrs Exell is the youngest of seven children, and her brother Kevin Lane was a Shire of Arapiles councillor in 1984.
Her passion for sport started when she attended Haven Primary School, enjoying athletics, tennis, netball and badminton.
Mrs Exell is a life member of Haven Tennis Club, a level one tennis development coach and a representative on the Central Wimmera Tennis Association.
After leaving Horsham High School, now Horsham College, Mrs Exell worked at Power and Bennett Solicitors, where she became a member of the Horsham Rotaract Club, providing opportunities for public speaking and meeting other groups from across Australia and overseas.
Mrs Exell also worked at Wimmera Small Engines and Lister House Clinic, before her and Gary started a plumbing business in 1994, employing many plumbers and apprentices over the years.