I moved to Orange in 2008 to start my career as a registered nurse and I’ve quickly come to value the community connections we enjoy here in the Central West. We’re living in a beautiful part of the state that has both history and opportunity, and I’m standing as a Greens candidate because I want to play my part in protecting everything we value about this region. Our public services are vital to the wellbeing of our communities. Schools and TAFEs need to have the resources and staff to give quality, accessible training and give young people the opportunity to train for the jobs of the future. Our water is the backbone of our agricultural productivity and the lifeblood of our towns and villages. We need to safeguard the health of our rivers and make use of smart, modern approaches like stormwater harvesting and efficiency improvements to secure the water needed for towns, agriculture and the environment. Our region has ideal conditions to become the state’s heartland for wind and solar energy. Innovation and manufacturing in the clean energy sector can bring new, high-tech job opportunities and help to ensure our economic future while we transition away from polluting coal and gas. Although I’m relatively new to this region, I’ve come to admire the character and special attractions that each of our cities, towns and villages displays. Let’s secure the future of our people and communities by working together to build on the opportunities we have here in the electorate of Orange.
By Janelle Bicknell