GRIT AND DETERMINATION - THE BACKBONE THAT SHAPED GEELONG
The race is on to elect a new Mayor in Greater Geelong and not since the first mayor was nominated in 1849 has there been a more historic vote for the office. This year, the Mayor of Greater Geelong will be elected by popular vote. Graeme Robin is a Mayoral Candidate for Greater Geelong.
Novice candidate, traveller and author Graeme Robin, thinks this is a wonderful opportunity.
"For the very first time, the new Mayor of Geelong will carry a mandate from the people. For the very first time, there is a real chance for the voice of the community to be fully heard and actioned.”
"Such direct input was never possible before. This is a momentous opportunity for open, fair, practical and effective leadership in Geelong," Graeme said.
Graeme Robin first came to the Geelong region 40 years ago when he and his wife Barb bought a holiday house in Ocean Grove. Over the 43 years of their marriage, Graeme and Barb's Ocean Grove home was a happy haven for family and friends; where the couple's three children and then nine grandchildren would delightedly enjoy the region's many great attractions.
An accountant by profession, Graeme worked first in industry and then in corporate management before, following a long-held dream to own their own business, the couple bought a furniture manufacturing company. Business was good for over a decade, until "the recession we had to have", as Graeme ruefully remembers, and the company closed.
But, with an ethic of hard work, the couple soon joined forces on a new venture.
"For 15 years we worked closely on a new lifestyle challenge. To achieve it, Barbara cleaned other people's houses and I restored furniture in our home workshop. We would work hard for nine months, then go touring for three months. It was wonderful," he said.”The best years of our lives.”
But, in 2006, Barb collapsed from a brain tumour and died five months later. Graeme took to the road, literally, and spent four months of each of the next five years driving alone through some of the most exotic and remote places on earth; Morocco, Tunisia, Syria, Russia, Iceland and Japan to name just a few.
Graeme Robin learned a lot on the road and has written about his adventures in a series of books. Despite the huge undertaking of these four-month solo trips across thousands of lonely and unforgiving miles, it's the small things that stay in his memory.
"It has been great to be driving through cities, towns, and villages and noticing the contrasts. Some were stark and forbidding, some warm, bright and welcoming. And some of the towns had clean air, while others just made me want to stop breathing. I really loved the places with no overhead power lines, no graffiti, colourful fresh bright flower beds and smiling friendly people. Sounds like Utopia – but they are around,” the author said.
Even Graeme Robin admits that he is not leading the field in the mayoral race, although he rates well for preferences even among his fellow candidates.
The 2012 field is a relatively crowded one, with nine candidates from a variety of backgrounds including business, community and even the council, as the incumbent John Mitchell is up for re-election. But Graeme Robin fears the rhetoric is too close to being more-of-the-same. He is keen for change. He thinks the voters are keen for change too. A joining of like-minded ratepayers.
"If I am successful it is because half of the voters agree with me and want change. A change in attitude from the bureaucracy. A change that mixes vision with common-sense, action with accountability, and big dreams that remain firmly based on core ideals," he said.
He is in conflict with issues like the white-hot speed with which housing estates have progressed in the city without obvious infrastructure and employment initiatives to make the growth viable in the long term, significant funds allocated to major projects like the Dome Library proposition without apparent and clear accountability for the future benefits to the community, and the continued frustration for ratepayers who consistently see little evidence or advice to prove their ever-increasing rates are justified, despite the latter being the loudest community complaint received by several candidates in the race.
Not that he is against progress - far from it. What Graeme Robin believes, is that more care and consideration is needed for the long-term results of community investments, rather than "a quick return policy" that might seem great at the start, but can often look very different in a few years' time. In short, vision and accountability for planning decisions and spending from the public purse.
The novice candidate realises that he is in for a tough fight, but that doesn't daunt him; he has risen above adversity before. He realises that his is a novel approach; well, he has done that in the past too, and with great success. He also realises that true success is not achieved alone. Just as he would be speaking for all the voters who put him in office, Graeme Robin knows that real change also needs the support of his council peers.
"If I am elected Mayor, then my first priority has to be to include and enable the 12 councillors and 2400 council officers to collaboratively carry the will of the people of Greater Geelong. That Mandate!”
"Together we can partner with and champion the community to make our region - our home - stronger, safer, better," he said.
This non-aligned candidate, with no political affiliation, says his wife was his greatest inspiration. When he bemoaned what he saw happening to his town, she told him to "Well, do something", and now he has.
"Geelong has so much to offer with its spectacular natural scenery, central regional location, commercial and industrial hub, and a rich cultural history. It it is our responsibility to preserve as well as improve our region for future generations.”
"Anyone who knows anything about the history of Geelong knows that sheer grit and determination saw us consistently rate second only to Melbourne in terms of growth and importance over the past 200 years.”
"I have grit and determination to help make this great city even greater. That is the backbone upon which Geelong was built, and I am very proud of that platform!" said Graeme Robin.
