Group K – Jan McWilliams Independent Group

Leading the team is ‘people person’ Jan McWilliams, whose local government experience includes 20 years as a councillor, eight of these as mayor of Great Lakes and six as deputy mayor. 

Former councillor Jim Morwitch has more than 30 years experience in the business.

Lawyer Carol McCaskie AM was a Great Lakes councillor for 12 years.

Sharon Wilson is a well respected Forster identity, involved in business and many sporting organisations. 

This advertising feature is sponsored by Jan McWilliams Independent Group

Taree’s Tim McLean is a support worker for people with disabilities and artistic achievements in many cultural fields. 

Pene Dobell-Brown is a healthcare professional.

What are three things you want to achieve if elected? To create an effective core in Council to be able to be of maximum benefit to the ratepayers of this vast new region.We also look to the continuation of focusing on matters such as savings from the amalgamation , continue the push for the roads and bridges program and be sure the Council maintains operational efficiency. Business development and Tourism are also both on our priority list.

What's your immediate priority? Our immediate priority will be to establish fairness and equality for the total region. This is the only way for us to achieve harmony within the newly formed Council.

What do you love about the area?: I love the diversity of this area has with oceans, national parks, a beautiful hinterland and majestic lakes and rivers. We indeed live in paradise.

What does being a councillor mean to you?: Being a Councillor has consumed some twenty years of my working life. I have achieved so much satisfaction from being able to represent our people, both as Mayor for eight years and Deputy Mayor for six. I have always operated with an open door policy which allows my availability to all ratepayers. I consider you need to have genuine devotion and understanding of your region’s needs.

What is your political or working experience?: My political experience had been benefited by my earlier working years in administration. I had developed an excellent  rapport during my local Government years with both State and Federal Governments, which still exists to this day.

In addition to the above I would like to add the fact that I was chosen as Local Government Woman of the year, and also New South Wales Government woman of the year, and was most proud to accept those titles. The nominations came from people in the Great Lakes and showed me that I must have been doing something ‘’right”.