Administrators Joanne Anderson and Meredith Sussex say they’re moving on but have treasured their time at Brimbank. Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By LAURA WAKELY
NEITHER Joanne Anderson nor Meredith Sussex are big on regrets, but each admits their time as Brimbank Administrators has been a learning experience.
While they’re not finishing their term until October, the pair were happy to sit down and chat with Star last week about their time in Brimbank.
For Ms Sussex, who worked at the former Sunshine council in the 1980s, returning to Brimbank was a homecoming.
“I felt so privileged to go away for 30 years and to learn what I’ve learnt and to do what I’ve done and be in the situation to come back and make a contribution to the same community that taught me so much in my 20s,” she said.
But as the Administrators discovered and re-discovered the area, they found a lack of infrastructure and planning in place, and a big task ahead.
They name leadership programs, community listening posts and creating more open space as some of their achievements.
The first listening post, Ms Sussex said, you could “shoot a cannon down the street” because of the low attendance, but a year on they became “lively and bustling” with thousands coming along.
Each of the Administrators spoke with a passion for the area, but neither is angry they were not asked, as Chair of Administrators Peter Lewinsky was, to stay on or approached for their opinion on whether Brimbank was ready for elections.
“We all assumed, until last week, that we were leaving in October. That’s what we were working towards,” Ms Sussex said.
“The reality is I love the area and I’m sad to leave but it’s the right decision for Brimbank.”
Ms Anderson said the pace of Brimbank had been challenging and each would be kept busy with other commitments after October.
But she said they would always have a strong interest and relationships with Brimbank.
“We’ve really given a lot of our personal lives and commitment to Brimbank and you can’t just walk away. Life’s not like that,” Ms Anderson said.
