MP pays tribute to women in business

I CONGRATULATE the Bendigo Times for highlighting the extraordinary accomplishments of the many fabulous women in this region.

My background is in small business and prior to entering Parliament I enjoyed a successful career as a newsagent and lottery agent, winning several awards including the inaugural Newsagent of the Year Award and Lottery Agent of the Year.

The newsagency industry had traditionally been dominated by males and I am proud to have been part of the generation that brought women to the fore as key drivers of businesses in the sector.

As I reflect on my career in business and politics, the overwhelming emotion that I feel is great joy and satisfaction.

I am proud to be a member of a family that has owned a long-standing successful business that enabled me to provide employment for others and first-class service to our customers.

In addition to starting my career in small business, I have also been actively involved in community service and advocacy from a young age through organisations that include Rotary, Rotaract and other service clubs, as well as fundraising committees and advocacy groups.

As a member of Rotaract, I found great joy in being part of a youth-led organisation dedicated to helping my local community.

This experience fuelled my desire to serve my community and become an elected representative in the Victorian Parliament.

As a Member of Parliament for the past 21 years I have been honoured to represent such an amazing part of our state and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity and support given to me by the people of Northern Victoria.

As a local MP I have been able to make a difference to the lives of individuals and services provided throughout Northern Victoria, but it is my time as the Minister for Housing and Minister for Early Childhood that provided me the opportunity to really make a difference.

I introduced initiatives such as the Education First Youth Foyer Program and quality improvements in the provision of Early Childhood Education.

The Education First Youth Foyer program provides subsidised accommodation for young homeless people to enable them to complete their education.

There are three 40-place Foyers operating in Shepparton, Sunbury and Glen Waverley and the program needs to be expanded to include Bendigo.

I will continue to advocate for this.