With her "heart in the right place" and "good intentions" Tess Duffy of Wingello hopes to be elected to Wingecarribee Shire Council come the Local Government election on September 14.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The idea of running for council was sparked in 2021.
"I was working for a business in the Highlands and I had a lot of dealings with the councillors and I just couldn't stand how they would deal with people with contempt," Ms Duffy said.
"I remember saying to my husband that I couldn't stand one particular man because he was so rude."
Her husband, Anthony, responded that she could probably do a better job anyway.
"But the council was sacked and that idea sort of died along with the council," Ms Duffy said.
However, earlier this year she became aware of the campaign being run by fellow Wingecarribee candidate Jesse Fitzpatrick, and Ms Duffy found herself inspired once more.
A mum of three, Ms Duffy met Mr Fitzpatrick's wife at a mother's group.
"I just asked her, do you think he would like some help? And it's sort of rolled on from there," she said.
"We share the same goals."
They each have a vision for the Highlands that is inclusive of young families.
Ms Duffy has three children, with her oldest about to start primary school next year.
Her middle child was diagnosed with a rare condition called mobium syndrome.
"It entails a lot. We have airway issues; she can't swallow," Ms Duffy said.
"The list of medications on her med chart is ridiculous. It's taken us a little bit but we're good now."
Her youngest is "surprise baby Tom" whom she credits with saving her, and "normalising" her parenting journey.
"I know Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick like the back of my hand," she said.
Despite her busy home life Ms Duffy feels ready for this new challenge.
And she's always been up for a challenge, and very community minded.
"I joined the Wingello RFS when I was 14 years old," she said.
"I don't know why, I just did. I went down to the station. I was scrawny and had braces, and it was full of men."
Somehow she talked her mum into signing a form that allowed her to go out on call-outs when she was 16.
"I think she very naively said 'sure' but then I was going out to car accidents and bushfires and assisting ambulance doing CPR on people who had died," Ms Duffy said.
"But I loved it."
The Highlands has always been home and Ms Duffy describes it as "a great life".
It's a life she wants her children to also be able to enjoy into the future.
"We had a great education and a great upbringing," she said.
"We did so much."
Her vision is for a more accessible Wingecarribee with footpaths for young mothers to push prams along, and for the kids to ride their bikes along.
"When you look at the statistics it's an aging population so of course there is a focus on the aged, but I really do think they need to realise that there's a lot of kids in this area too," Ms Duffy said.
Sally Foy
Regional reporter based in the Southern Highlands. I am also a mother and advocate for children with a disability and epilepsy.
Regional reporter based in the Southern Highlands. I am also a mother and advocate for children with a disability and epilepsy.
