J.L. “FRED” SMITH
MILLICENT resident Ryan Jellesma hopes his community-minded spirit will strike a chord with electors in Corcoran ward.
The Tantanoola farm worker has become the fourth candidate to officially announce their intention to seek a position on Wattle Range Council.
“I want to improve the community,” Mr Jellesma said.
“I want to represent the communities of Millicent and Tantanoola, listen to them and do what they want.”
Mr Jellesma believes his youth, community passion and active involvement with such organisations as the RSL, Millicent Men’s Shed and the Country Fire Service equips him well to be an elected representative.
A vacancy is arising as councillor Glenn Brown announced almost a month ago he would resign due to his impending move from Millicent to Mount Gambier.
The deputy mayor is yet to submit his resignation in writing and so the formal process managed by the Australian Electoral Commission to choose a successor is yet to start.
At 26, Mr Jellesma is less than half the age of the youngest serving councillor.
Council has never elected a councillor under 30 in its 22-year history and the ages of the current 12 elected members range from the 50s to the 70s.
“The youth have limited representation [on council] and get overlooked by the older generation,” Mr Jellesma said.
“We need to bring in more sporting events like the Millicent skateboard competition which was fantastic last year.
“Youth feel disenfranchised from council and the focus is not there.
“Youth Week was just one week.
“Youth is a large demographic and we are losing them.
“They are leaving for employment and university and we do not get them back.”
Mr Jellesma spent his formative years in Mount Gambier and Adelaide and completed an apprenticeship as a chef in the capital city.
City life was not for him and he returned to the South East where he has since worked on various local farms.
Mr Jellesma has called Millicent home for the past five years and is a homeowner.
His other interests are competitive pistol shooting and the horse-riding discipline of reining.
“I thought about standing for council last year but I did not know enough at the time,” he said.
“My intention was to run for council at the next election in 2022 but now Cr Brown is about to resign.
Council has made some significant decisions in recent months and the aspiring councillor has some definite views on them.
“The Millicent saleyards should stay as they are an important part of the rural community and have supporting industries.
“They need to be viable and we need to see what we can do”.
Mr Jellesma is against a council proposal to spend $3.5m on a new office.
“That amount of money is a safety net against rate rises,” he said.
“People in the council area need to benefit from that money.
“It could be spent on such community infrastructure as parks, community buildings and the Millicent rail lands.
“This would encourage business – the towns of Millicent and Tantanoola would improve and everyone benefits.”
Mr Jellesma concedes that operating the Millicent swimming lake is an expensive undertaking.
“However, the closure date should not be set but be flexible and take into account the hot weather.”
He said the council was a long-term creditor of the Millicent and District Community Club but should not purchase the vacant building.
“It should let the administrator do what has to be done.”
Mr Jellesma said he has kept his candidacy for council under wraps.
“99pc of people will learn of it when they read the paper,” he said.
“I am happy to talk to people if they see me in the street.”
Former Corcoran Ward councillor and mayoral candidate Dennis Muhovics has announced his candidacy while the two 2018 unsuccessful candidates Nicole Looby-McRostie and Klaus Emmerich have stated they will have another run at office.
