A range of community campaigners showed their support for Socialist Alliance (SA) Councillor Sarah Hathway’s re-election bid, at the Geelong Hockey Association club rooms on July 20.
Hathway is a councillor in the embattled northern suburbs, which are part of the City of Greater Geelong (CoGG).
Hathway told Green Left that the enthusiasm of the 80 attendees made her hopeful about a community fight back in a region hit hard by cost-of-living rises, a lack of affordable housing and overall government neglect.
“Our campaign launch brought together First Nations activists, trade unionists, environmentalists, Palestinian supporters, queer rights campaigners and committed local activists.
“We were also very pleased to have SA Councillor Sue Bolton, a long-time socialist leader from Merri-bek City Council.
It’s this sort of grassroots diversity that can inspire alliances to stand up to predatory governments that don’t listen to communities like ours.”
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However, winning the newly-declared ward of Corio will be no easy task for Hathway.
Electoral changes mean that single-member wards need a majority of the vote, rather than the proportional multi-member system in which she was elected.
This time Hathway will face long-term incumbent Councillor Anthony Aitken.
However, as the only announced candidate who lives in Corio, she hopes that this will be an advantage.
“We need a local who not only understands the North, but who is involved in community campaigns and initiatives.”
Hathway said she is not contesting the council spot with a career in state or federal politics in mind. “I want to advance and support community campaigns, demands and resident-led initiatives.”
Hathway’s thoughts were echoed by Bolton who, if re-elected, will enter her fourth term on Merri-bek.
Bolton said it is important that activists use their positions on council “to help build residents’ confidence” that, working together, they can advance community campaigns.
“Sometimes we can support an existing campaign,” Bolton said. “But, more often we need to act like a union delegate: we need to find out about the issues, collectivise and help residents start with a petition, a community meeting or a local action.”
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The launch was chaired by Angela Carr, another SA CoGG candidate, standing in Hamlyn Heights ward.
Carr helped lead the successful fight to stop CoGG from closing public libraries last year. She is a community campaigner and advocate for public housing, community services, the environment and against racism.
First Nations activist Julie Sailor Briggs and activists Jenna Wade and Melanie Search told the launch that the commitment of SA to local and other campaigns had inspired them. Some great tunes were provided by Seal Prince and the Roof Rats.
[Help Sarah Hathway’s campaign by getting in touch here.]