My passion for education started long before I was involved in politics. I was the grants coordinator, president, and treasurer for our local community kindergarten, which my third daughter , Sydney , attended. I got involved simply because I loved the centre and the people in it. There is something incredibly special about early education and being part of a place where children take their first steps into learning.

Working on that project with the community was a privilege. It was about more than just managing grants or balancing budgets; it was about helping something grow and seeing what a difference that makes. Now when I visit the kindy, it is humbling and satisfying to look around and think, “I helped build that.”

What drives me most is being out in the community, working alongside people, not sitting behind a desk. These are my neighbours, my friends, and my children’s friends. The good work we do together now will continue to benefit future generations. The kindergarten project is a perfect example of that. The work we did seven or eight years ago is still having an impact today, and children who were not even born then are now enjoying the results.

For me, that is what real community service looks like. It is not about titles or politics. It is about being present, being genuine, and helping to create something lasting for the people who call this place home.