Michele Wharrie is running for a position on Wyndham Council. 84245 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By XAVIER SMERDON
A FORMER police officer and current hospital emergency department care coordinator and criminologist has put her hand up for a position on Wyndham Council.
Michele Wharrie lived in Tarneit for 12 years before moving to Werribee.
Ms Wharrie said her experiences in the health system had inspired her to run for the council.
“There is a lack of health services in the area, especially for older people and children,” Ms Wharrie told Star.
“There are no pediatric services in the area so families need to go to Sunshine if they need care.”
As a police officer Ms Wharrie worked in Dandenong and Broadmeadows, which she said had given her a greater understanding of dealing with growth areas.
“As a social worker and a criminologist you see first-hand a lot of the issues that are effecting people in the area,” she said.
“The residents need to be heard.”
Ms Wharrie said a lack of infrastructure in Wyndham was the number one issue effecting residents.
“We moved here because it was a wonderful place and I still think it’s wonderful but the growth has overwhelmed those feelings for people,” she said.
“People are saying they can’t even move around in Wyndham, let alone get onto the freeway.”
Ms Wharrie will be running in the Chaffey Ward which will have four councillors for the first time after the election in October.
