Central Ward
Carolyne Boothman didn’t let a stint in hospital stop her from throwing her hat into the local leadership contest.
Suffering from an infection and unable to register for the Latrobe City Council election in person, a Victorian Electoral Commission field officer visited the Maryvale Private Hospital last week to take her nomination.
“Someone said to me, ‘it’s an indication of your dedication’,” Ms Boothman said.
The “born and bred” Morwell resident assured she was okay, and had a lot of energy and enthusiasm to become a councillor for Central Ward after extensive volunteer and governance experience in sporting associations, local health and music clubs.
Ms Boothman is currently chair of the Morwell and District Community Recovery Committee and has advocated for Morwell since the Hazelwood mine fire.
The Labor Party also announced the 46 year-old as its Gippsland candidate in the Federal election this year.
However, she withdrew her candidacy after discovering she would have to quit her position as a teacher at Morwell Primary School due to a rule in the Constitution.
“I am well aware of the many challenges facing the community of Morwell as I work with the children and families in my roles as a teacher and through the recovery committee,” Ms Boothman said.
She said her number one priority was jobs and believed the Valley had the physical and natural assets, knowledge and skills to assist through a transition away from the coal industry.
“However, council needs to do more to develop Morwell’s assets and demand that both state and federal governments support our region’s transition and bring us real jobs,” she said.
When asked about women representation on council, Ms Boothman said she had always been a woman in leadership since high school – often the only woman surrounded by a board room of men.
“It is a great opportunity to see more opportunity for women, because you get a different perspective and a wide balance from different social groups,” she said.
