Koonwarra boasts MP

KOONWARRA’S Melina Bath will represent Eastern Victoria in State Parliament.

The Mirboo North Secondary College teacher has been named The Nationals’ new member for Eastern Victoria Region in the Legislative Council.

Ms Bath was chosen by party delegates at Traralgon on Saturday to fill the place vacated by Danny O’Brien, who successfully contested the Gippsland South by-election.

The former co-owner of Leongatha Healthfoods is currently co-coordinator of mathematics at Mirboo North Secondary College.

“I’m prepared to get up early, work hard and stay late to get things right for Gippsland,” she said.

Ms Bath has long held political aspirations.

“I love people, I love Gippsland and South Gippsland is just a beautiful place, and I want to ensure we have a future for our young people, for jobs and for economic growth,” she said.

Ms Bath said she has a strong commitment to advancing opportunities for youth in the Eastern Region – a seat that spans from the Mornington Peninsula to the New South Wales border.

“We need to do a lot more to engage our youth and give them an opportunity to be heard in the political process,” she said.

“I am making a strong commitment to engage with youth throughout the Eastern Region, and will be taking their concerns to parliament.”

Ms Bath expressed a desire to focus on policy development in education and creating educational opportunities for young people.

Advocating for more roads spending after 12 years of “decay” under Labor was another priority for her, as are tackling ice and other drug issues.

Ms Bath will continue to live at Koonwarra and keep her office in Traralgon, but expected to be travelling throughout the electorate meeting constituents.

Her family is involved with the Leongatha Knights Soccer Club and Ms Bath still expects to undertake canteen duty.

She is a mother of two: Lachlan, 18, is studying at Mary MacKillop College in Leongatha and Darcy, 20, is studying nursing.

The strongly contested pre-selection was held in Traralgon on Saturday. Ms Bath visited delegates across the region in the lead-up to Saturday to state her case. On the day, she gave a speech and was subject to a question and answer session before the final vote.

Voters included delegates, politicians and party officials.

Ms Bath will take up the position when parliament sits in the middle of next month.

Mr O’Brien congratulated Ms Bath.

“Melina is a proud and passionate South Gippslander and will be a great asset to The Nationals team in Gippsland and in State Parliament,” he said.

“Melina was raised at Fish Creek, lives in Koonwarra, ran a small business in Leongatha and is a teacher in Mirboo North, so she has a deep understanding of what makes South Gippsland tick.

“But as a born and bred Gippslander she will be a great representative for the whole region.”

Mr O’Brien said Ms Bath’s life experience would ensure she made a valuable contribution to the party and the parliament on behalf of all Gippslanders.

“As the first woman elected to the State Parliament to represent The Nationals in Gippsland she also adds to the diversity of our party, and joins our recently elected MPs Steph Ryan and Emma Kealy as a talented group of young women in our ranks,” he said.

“Melina follows in the footsteps of another South Gippsland woman, Senator Bridget McKenzie, who was elected to the senate in 2010 and has also done her region and state proud.

“As Member for Gippsland South, I’m wrapt to have Melina’s support and I look forward to working with her in the future.”

Mr O’Brien paid tribute to Kate Lancaster, Tim Shelton and Nicole Griffin as the other candidates who put themselves forward for pre-selection.

Long held dream: soon-to-be Member for Eastern Victoria Region Melina Bath (second from right) is congratulated by leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh, Victorian Senator Bridget McKenzie, and Member for Gippsland South Danny O’Brien following Saturday’s pre-selection meeting in Traralgon.

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Posted by Tayla Kershaw on Mar 31 2015. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry