In February, as a member of the "Finish What You Started" campaign, Karly Kirk travelled to Melbourne to push Victoria's education minister to fully fund the Warracknabeal Education Precinct.
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In May, she and others rejoiced as the minister announced it would receive $20 million to finish the upgrades to the primary school, special development school and gymnasium.
In October, she will run for Yarriambiack Shire Council, wanting to support other projects the whole community will benefit from.
"I feel like at the moment the council has taken a fresh approach. We've got stability and a new dynamic chief executive, and I feel I have value to contribute to it," she said.
"I think I can bring a fresh perspective and forward thinking.
"For example, when it came to Mr Merlino, he did not want to talk to us, we had so many levels of staff to get through. So we enlisted the help fo the media when they didn't stop to see us, inviting councillors and asking them to advocate on our behalf, calling every motel in the area to see if he was staying there, to leave a message for him to visit. We just did anything and everythign we could think of to get our voices heard."
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Mrs Kirk said she hoped to help diversify the shire's economy to be less reliant on agriculture.
"I feel we have that opportunity, especially at the moment, so next time there are a few bad seasons we won'thave a mass exodus of young people moving to the city," she said.
"We have in Warracknabeal so many hand-made, bespoke and unique jewellery creators, and entrpreneurial people. I think more of that would be absolutely amazing.
"I'd like to be able to foster a culture of growth and 'anything is possible'."
Mrs Kirk said she thought the outgoing council had done well in advocating for library changes, three-year-old kinder and sports upgrades. She said her values included equity, honesty and being inquisitive.
She has two daughters, Darcy and Abbey, and is married to Robert, a dealer at O'Connors machinery.
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Alexander Darling
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
