Ms Durant worked at Corangamite Shire for more than 20 years as manager of community services. After retiring, the Noorat resident was looking for a new challenge and decided to stand for the shire’s central ward in the upcoming council elections.

“It will be interesting to sit on the other side of the fence and to sit around the table in a different role,” Ms Durant said.

“I have the skills to be a really effective councillor, I’m a good listener, I take considered decisions, I like to do a lot of reading and weigh up all the evidence before I make a decision.”

Ms Durant said her background in local government would also hold her in good stead for the role.

“I know a lot about how local government works, its roles and functions, the services it provides… and engaging with communities,” she said.

Before moving to Noorat, the Durants lived at Glenormiston, and Ms Durant said the future of the college was a particular interest to her. 

“I think it’s really exciting what’s happening, or going to happen, with Glenormiston College, I think not just locally but for the region,” she said of the announcement earlier this year that Acknowledge Education would lead a multi-partnered enterprise to take over the site.

“It’s potentially going to have some huge opportunities and spin-offs for the shire and we need to take every advantage of that and I really feel strongly that council needs to be sitting around the table as part of some sort of local advisory group to make sure that the services and future direction of Glenormiston are aware of what opportunities exist for assisting locally.”

Ms Durant is also ready to fight for the retention of council services such as aged care. She fears the incoming National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and changes to the Home and Community Care Program could increase pressure to privatise some services.

“I want to be part of the decision-making process, if it comes to that, because I think it’s really important those services are retained and not given to the private sector,” she said.

Ms Durant also listed economic development, population growth, promoting small towns, road and transport improvements and fostering Corangamite’s culture of respect and transparency as among her priorities.

“I really believe in fairness and equity in decision making. Social justice, that’s really important to me,” she said. 

Ms Durant described her ultimate vision for Corangamite as “a community where everyone is able to take advantage of opportunities to live prosperous and healthy lives, equitable access to education, health, employment, recreation and social involvement. The council has a key role to play in all of those areas,” she said.