Shane Causley

I am Shane Causley, and I am running for Council.

Why?

I have a young family, and like most families in the Clarence, we worry about everything getting more expensive.

I’ll do all I can on Council to help relieve cost of living pressures.

I am also passionate about making sure Council does everything possible to help open the new Grafton Hospital as soon as possible.

I am passionate about the area we live in and will fight to have its natural beauty, and the relaxed lifestyle of our communities maintained.

We need sustainable development; we don’t want development to overwhelm our infrastructure.

My family run a Clarence cane farm; I am inspired to deliver better outcomes for farming families as my own family has done in the past.

I am 100 percent Clarence Valley, born at Maclean Hospital and lived on Warregah Island almost all of my life.

My wife and I have our own farming company.

We bought the family’s Warregah Island properties in 2019.

We farm sugarcane and soybeans.

I was the Chairman of Soy Australia, and I take farmers to tour the USA to learn about soybean growing, sustainability, soil health and specialised machinery.

We have been married for 29 years.

We have a daughter and a son.

We also have five grandchildren.

I played first grade cricket for 20 years in Clarence Valley competitions.

I am now an accredited cricket umpire.

I am a director of the North Clarence Harvesting Co-Op.

I have been a cane steward at the Maclean show for 35 years, helping to showcase the sugar industry in our local community.

I am an award-winning member of the North Coast Oilseed Growers Association.

I am passionate about farming and would like to one day hand the family farm over to my children.

I will advocate for all of the Clarence Valley, primary producers, small businesses, sporting groups and local communities.

If elected I will work hard for our local communities, just as my father did for so many years.

Peter Johnstone

I am just finishing my first term as a councillor and have had the privilege of serving as Mayor for the past year.

What I have enjoyed most is meeting people across the Clarence Valley, hearing their stories, and understanding what is important to them.

I have travelled to every corner of our LGA and visited almost every community.

As Mayor, I am often invited to community celebrations and special events, which I have thoroughly enjoyed.

I attended most of the councillor listening tours and hope to continue these in some form in the next term of council.

In council meetings, my role is to chair the meetings fairly, ensuring all councillors have the opportunity to speak and that the meetings are conducted properly.

I enjoy public speaking and have had many opportunities since becoming a councillor, from being a guest speaker to opening exhibitions and events and delivering speeches at formal occasions such as citizenship ceremonies and remembrance days. 

The Mayor represents the council at State and Federal events, in discussions with other Mayors and councils, and hosts visiting dignitaries such as the Governor, who visited last year.

My family is very important to me.

Julie, my wife, is a doctor at Queen Street Clinic in Grafton, and my three adult children live in Queensland.

Julie enjoys being outdoors, so we often go walking in the mountains, beaches, and National Parks. 

I still teach occasional Maths lessons and enjoy working with young people.

In my spare time, I am the secretary of the Grafton Supa Oldie Soccer Club and a Deputy Captain in the Grafton City Rural Fire Brigade.

My other voluntary roles with the RFS include Peer Support Officer and Rural Fire Instructor.

I am currently the chair of the Clarence Nationals, although I am standing as an independent, as the Nationals party does not believe State or Federal politics should feature in local government.

Please see my Facebook page, Mayor Peter Johnstone – Clarence Valley for more information or come and say hi if you see me around!

Karen Toms

My name is Karen Toms, I am self-employed and understand the importance of small business to the economy and jobs.

I successfully contested the past four Local Government elections.

Over the years, we have been on a journey setting good strategic direction in compliance with the Integrated Planning and Reporting Legislation, focusing on debt reduction in readiness to replace worn-out community facilities. The Grafton pool, the Treelands Drive Community Centre with a larger Library for Yamba, the Maclean Civic Hall to a Cultural Centre with a 270-tiered seat auditorium.

I am working on better beach access, improved public transport for people in wheelchairs and mobility impairment. I participated in the State Government’s Round Table discussions on this issue. A report is imminent. Three key focus areas of our Disability Inclusion Access Plan (DIAP). Foster positive community attitudes and behaviours, increase the liveability of our communities, improve access to meaningful employment for people with disability.

On a personal note, I am a co-director of JKT & Sons Pty Ltd with my husband Jeff.

Jeff and I celebrated our 46^th wedding anniversary this month. We have two sons, three grandsons.

I am a people person and have a serving style of leadership. I am curious and ask lots of questions. I have a philosophy to take every opportunity I can, and never stop learning. I have educated myself and extended my skill set since becoming a councillor. Local Government is more complex than people think.

I am Director of (CVCFS) Clarence Valley Community Financial Services Ltd t/a Bendigo Community Bank South Grafton and was recently appointed Chairman of the Board.

Following, some history I believe is relevant to my candidate profile.

• Member of ALGWA NSW       branch                            
• Chair Clarence Regional Library
• Chair Clarence Valley Council Access Advisory Committee                                                
• Mentor for Women in Business Program Department of State and Regional Development 2008
• Former Iluka Chamber President
• Presented for Iluka at the Premiers’ Conference “Building Communities” 2003 Town-life Project.
• Maclean Shire Council Economic Development Committee
• Board Member Clarence River Tourism Association CRTA
• Founding Board Member Kimberley College Ltd