Rose counts the blessings of a Surf Coast life

WHEN Rose Hodge’s parents bought a block of land in Jan Juc there were only a handful of homes in the area.

It was the early 1960s and a young Rose relished precious days spent by the sea.

“My parents built a holiday house here back in the Sixties when Jan Juc only had about five houses,” the Surf Coast Shire mayor recalls, chuckling at the memory.

“We came down every weekend and I had a horse down here – he had a fantastic life too, by the way.

“So, my connection to the area spans more than 50 years.”

Rose and husband Wayne raised their three boys in Jan Juc and she got involved with many sporting and community groups – everything from president of the kinder committee through to roles within the Torquay Netball Club where she is a proud life member.

But it was her decision to run for council in 2004 that proved to be fortuitous.

Rose has remained a councillor for 16 years and served five terms as mayor.

It is a role she says complements her fondness for meeting new people, keeping busy and getting things done.

“When everything was up and running before COVID I would have something on every day,” says Rose, who is the shire’s longest-serving councillor.

“I probably would have a breakfast, lunch or dinner invitation – or maybe morning tea.

“Because you are mayor you go to a lot more events which I really enjoy.

“I also love the areas I get to visit across the shire, places like Deans Marsh which is such a hidden gem.”

Rose misses the interactions with the public now her diary is instead filled with Zoom meetings.

“That’s why I find COVID so hard,” she concedes.

“I’m home in my office and you see a lot of negativity sometimes on social media and I miss that positivity you feel out in the community.”

Rose is recontesting her seat in the upcoming council election and, if successful, will focus on establishing an arts centre, improving public engagement and delivering on the public pool.

“Looking forward to the future we would like a brand new arts centre and a new library so that’s my big driver if I’m re-elected,” she says.

“After COVID we have got to rejuvenate this area and our small businesses and I think I have got the skills and the expertise, not only to talk to people, but to advocate to State and Federal governments.”

Rose is also passionate about creating opportunities for people with disabilities and says having an autistic son, Connor, has broadened her networks and opened her eyes to importance of creating an inclusive society.

“Not everyone is able bodied and we have got to really look after people with disabilities to ensure they can live a great life down here as well,” she says.

On the subject of family, Rose says she owes so much to the unwavering support of her husband Wayne.

“My husband is my rock, I wouldn’t have had anything if it wasn’t for him,” she says.

“You have got to have that support, someone that when you get really upset sometimes over matters, that they understand and can help you.

“It can be a bit daunting at times and a little upsetting but you get over that because your family still loves you and you’ve got to remember that you can’t please everybody, you just can’t.

“You’ve just got to do the best you can which is what I always try to do.”

Rose says the recent challenging times caused by the pandemic have made her even more grateful for her coastal home.

“If you have a hard day you can grab a coffee and go look out over Point Danger and just feel absolutely blessed by the beautiful environment around us,” she says.

“We’ve got great schools and great facilities, we are only 20 minutes from a major regional city, we are only an hour-and-a-half from Melbourne and we’re near Avalon Airport – there is just everything here.

“It’s been a wonderful family life and a life I hope to continue down here until I retire.”