By AIDAN KNIGHT

 

LATROBE City Council will seek fresh candidates for the seat of Morwell River Ward following the resignation of Tracie Lund.

The Victorian Electoral Commission announced on Wednesday, April 1, that the Morwell River Ward will hold a by-election in the month of August, by post.

While current candidates have not yet been announced, a clearer picture is expected in coming weeks.

Candidate at the last election for Morwell River Ward, John Ellingham, indicated to the Express he would run again if he felt he was the best option.

Mr Ellingham felt suited for the job in 2024 as a lifelong resident and volunteer within the region, with a strong connection to the area’s rich power industry, experience in legal operations, and a commitment to resident’s health.

He performed well in a three-horse race last time round, gaining 37.52 per cent of first preference votes.

“I surprised myself,” Mr Ellingham told the Express.

“I thought I might have got 25 per cent. To get that percentage surprised me. It encouraged me.”

With that result still relatively fresh, Mr Ellingham said it was weighing heavily on his mind as the ward prepares to return to the polls.

“I have this view that I’ve almost got an obligation to all those people that supported me and voted for me,” he said.

“The voters of Morwell (River) showed some faith in me, and I probably now need to return the favour.”

Mr Ellingham has a consistent history of advocating for local people in and outside of paid roles, highlighted by his involvement in the building of the former change rooms at Maryvale Recreation Reserve, and his service on the Latrobe Community Health Centre Committee before the Kennett reforms of the 1990’s.

Looking ahead, Mr Ellingham said he remains concerned about council responsiveness and implementation, particularly around safety and basic infrastructure.

He recounted raising issues over several years before and after his last candidacy, including unsafe stormwater grates on Latrobe roads for cyclists, and safety concerns at the Mid Valley traffic school, where he recently spotted a young child riding an e-bike without a helmet.

Mr Ellingham believes Morwell has long received a “raw deal” in terms of capital development compared with other parts of Latrobe City.

“Every time you speak to them (council), they raise two things – you’ve got an art gallery, and you’ve got a rose garden,” he said.

“Outside of those two items, that’s about all they can identify that Morwell’s got that has come through Latrobe City.”

For Mr Ellingham, he said any future councillor for Morwell River Ward must be visible and accessible. He praised former councillor Graeme Middlemiss, and current serving mayor, Sharon Gibson, as shining examples of representatives who make themselves consistently available to the people.

The Express also reached out to fellow 2024 candidate Dorothy Long, who declined to be interviewed.

She has since publicly expressed support for the current Latrobe City Council in a Facebook comment regarding council’s recent decision to allocate $200,000 toward Christmas decorations.

“I am sure it will be wisely allocated and fairly distributed,” she said via social media.

For now, Mr Ellingham may be Morwell River’s most likely candidate, but he will wait “to see who comes out of the woodwork” before he commits to deciding on reappearing as a potential councillor.

“If I saw someone else I could put a vote behind who I think would look after our people, that’s absolutely what I would do,” he said.

“People here just want a councillor they can reach and rely on,” he said.

“If I don’t see that in anyone else, I’ll have to consider being that person.”