Personal Details
What is your:
Name? Morwenna Harslett
Age? 42
Suburb of residence? Stanthorpe
Background
How long have you lived in the Southern Downs? When was the last time you lived away from the region and why?
I was born and grew up on a vegetable farm at Amiens, went to Amiens State School and Stanthorpe High before attending boarding school in Toowoomba.
Following school I travelled for some years before completing studies in education and then working as a primary school teacher in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions of Western Australia.
I returned to teach for two years at Stanthorpe High before purchasing Cherry Lane Nursery on Sugarloaf Road, which I have owner-operated for the past ten years.
Campaign General
What has prompted you to run for council?
I have long had an interest in politics and have held a number of leadership positions, both in my work and through a range of community organisations in the local area.
What is your assessment of the current council?
I believe that for some years, progress within the SDRC has been hindered by dwelling on the discontent that followed amalgamation. It is time to put this behind us and move on as a cooperative and cohesive region.
At this stage what is the main thing you offer:
Residents as a whole/ratepayers?
Are there specific differences in approach for:
Particular suburbs/towns in the region?
Rural landholders?
While of course, the different suburbs and towns of the region have individual needs, I believe we can better achieve goals for everyone through cooperation.
What are some of the big issues currently facing the region and how do you propose to address them?
As someone whose livelihood depends inextricably on the availability of water to households, and as the daughter of agriculturalists without whom our economy would collapse, water security is, in my opinion, the greatest concern facing our region. I admit that as a Stanthorpe resident, I see this issue from the perspective of the south, however, successful industry in the Granite Belt benefits other areas and I hope to dedicate myself to learning more about the rest of the Southern Downs so as to more equitably represent all residents.
Those who know me will be aware that I am passionate about music, arts and culture and I believe that balance between resources, facilities and funding for sports and recreation versus arts and culture needs addressing. Easier and higher quality access to sports and arts activities has positive implications for physical and mental health, social wellbeing and the liveability of the region.
If elected, how do you promise to generate real change which improves the livelihoods of residents living in the Southern Downs?
I consider myself something of an environmentalist, I love nature and have a family history in this field. I will make decisions with environmental implications at the forefront of my thinking, however a balance is important between industry and nature and I believe the two can progress and be protected harmoniously.
