Muir’s hope to make history

AT this year’s local elections, Rachel Muir is putting her name in the ring in the hopes of becoming the City of Ballarat’s first Indigenous councillor.

Running within South Ward, Ms Muir said after some deliberation she decided to put her hand up in the hopes she can bring some new blood to the future council.

“I’m a little bit shy at coming forward but somebody has to do it,” she said.

“I’ve been on various committees within the city council like the Koorie Engagement Action Group which is a group of Koorie voices for the city council to listen to as well as the Intercultural Ambassador’s program.

“Talking amongst other multicultural people, they thought that they didn’t have a voice in the community so I thought, they live here, they call Ballarat their home, they’re eligible to vote so they deserve a voice.”

While the proud Yorta Yorta woman is passionate about a range of issues, the focus of her campaign is to be a voice for cultural diversity and to provide the youth with opportunities.

Reflecting on the recent win of Lidia Thorpe as the state’s first Aboriginal female senator, Ms Muir said it would be great to see this emulated within Ballarat council.

“She is an amazing role model for young Indigenous women, even just women in general,” she said.

“It is a great to see role models from diverse communities that step up and show younger kids that they can do whatever they want and that they can achieve whatever they put their mind too.

“My young fella said he wanted to be the Prime Minister … and told me I could do whatever I wanted because I had told them they could which is another reason why I’m running for council, I have to lead by example.”

In addition to issues of cultural diversity, Ms Muir said she also aims to support aged and disability care and land care conservation and work against social injustices.

“I also have a focus on aged care and to look after the elderly in our community because in my culture we respect our elders,” she said.

“The wider community have been saying that Ballarat needs more spaces for inclusivity where we can have public forums on things that matter to residents and for people to feel safe in attending.

“We have a large diverse range of people in this community and that should be honoured and respected.”

Ms Muir is set to run as an independent candidate without any political backing which she said she believes will enable her to achieve what is best for the community.

“For someone like me to get into council, it would show them that I’ve been voted in and that we can work together to make Ballarat more inclusive,” she said.

“I don’t have a party affiliation or anything because I believe that we’re Ballarat, we’re not a political party.

“I’m proud to live in Ballarat and I think that if you’re proud to live here, you should show you’re proud and do things within and for the community.”