Fashion entrepreneur enters South Barwon race, promises fresh start

One of the Geelong region’s most closely-watched electorates has its Liberal contender, with business owner and entrepreneur Libby Pettit preselected for South Barwon on Sunday.

Pettit, the designer and director of fashion label Zerafima, said the electorate should vote for a fresh start at November’s state election.

“I’m putting my hand up because I believe the South Barwon community deserves a representative who understands the challenges facing families and small businesses, listens to local people and delivers real outcomes,” Pettit said.

“After years of cost-of-living pressures, broken promises and growing pressure on local infrastructure, it’s time for a fresh approach that focuses on practical solutions and getting things done.”

A self-described “farm girl at heart”, Pettit was raised on a farm in Little River and educated in Geelong.

She said she would be a strong local voice for South Barwon and would draw on her decades of experience in business, leadership and community advocacy if elected.

“I grew up in a long-standing Geelong farming family, and that connection to the land drew me into community advocacy standing up for farmers and residents who felt shut out of decisions affecting their future,” Pettit said.

“I’ve always been driven to build businesses, teams and the people around me. Now I want to help build opportunity for the next generation, so they have the same chance I had: to own a home, start a business, raise a family and believe the future is theirs.”

The seat is presently held by independent MP Darren Cheeseman, who resigned from the Labor Party in 2024 amid allegations of inappropriate workplace behaviour.

Labor has already endorsed Rebecca Thistleton as its candidate for the seat, while the Greens have selected Izzy Scherrer and the Socialist Alliance will field Freya Hedley.