The Daily Telegraph – Newslocal – Bowral
A campaign for a new-look Wingecarribee Council following its suspension has attracted a star-studded following, including the likes of Skye Leckie and Joh Bailey.
One of the first campaigns for a fresh-look council in the Southern Highlands – Let’s get it right – has attracted a star-studded following.
The campaign launched with an event Centennial Vineyards in Bowral recently to introduce Jane Crowley and Nicole Smith as Wingecarribee Shire Council candidates on an independent ticket.
The event attracted over 300 people, with many notable local names in attendance, such as artist Tim and Janet Storrier, high-profile hairdresser Joh Bailey, and socialite Skye Leckie. Ms Crowley said the engagement with the campaign was so overwhelming they were forced to turn away guests when the venue reached capacity.
Ms Leckie said the large number of guests was reflective of the local desire for change in local government.
“(T)hat is a knockout turnout,” she said.
“Every person present was a local resident that believes the Southern Highlands deserves better.”
Businesswoman Jane Crowley, who owns Dirty Janes in Bowral, is the lead candidate in a campaign for council called Let’s Get It Right. Picture: Let’s Get It Right
Ms Leckie and her husband David Leckie, the former CEO of Seven West Media, live on a property in Robertson. Ms Leckie is a former Frensham student who spent much of her childhood in the Southern Highlands with her uncle and aunt at their home on Headlam Road in Bowral. She told The Bowral News she has been “very fortunate” to spend so much time in the region she loves.
“I have always been very aware of how incredibly special the Highlands is and what it means to so many people who have lived here all their lives and will continue to do so,” she said.
Southern Highlands socialite Skye Leckie has supported Jane Crowley’s bid for council since the beginning.
Ms Leckie is so passionate about her surroundings that she and Janet Storrier chained themselves to a heritage Pin Oak tree in Bowral in protest against the controversial Station St project last year.
She is supporting the Let’s Get It Right campaign because of the commitment to maintaining the green space and the heritage of the Southern Highlands.
“Jane is also fighting to preserve the character of the Shire, which is extremely important to me,” she said.
The preservation of shire character is one of three pillars of Let’s Get It Right, along with new leadership and improved council performance.
Hairdressing mogul Joh Bailey, who lives in Sutton Forest and has a salon in Bowral, said there was an obvious need for fresh faces in the council chambers after the recent spate of “bad decisions”. He pointed to the enormous cost blowout of Station St as an indication of a tired and stale council.
“I believe council did not have a clue about what they were trying to do with Station St and appeared not to be capable of managing a project or a budget,” he said.
Mr Bailey said the council were out of touch with their constituents and their needs.
“I want to see decisions made that are in the best interests of the Southern Highlands and respectful of ratepayers money,” he said.
For Mr Bailey, the council’s treatment of businesses during the bushfires and the pandemic was indicative of council’s inadequacy.
“I can’t recall a single initiative or plan from council that was effective in helping small businesses recover,” he said.
Celebrity hairdresser Joh Bailey said he loves the Southern Highlands and wants to see positive change. Picture: John Appleyard
The lack of council engagement with businesses has been a complaint repeated throughout local business groups. Ms Crowley said businesses were “left to fend for themselves” during the disastrous past year and throughout the recovery.
Mr Bailey believes Ms Crowley’s expertise as the successful owner of Dirty Janes in Bowral and Canberra will be invaluable for the council and the shire as a whole.
“As a small-business owner, I am really pleased to see another small business owner being prepared to step up and run,” he said.
“We have to carefully manage our businesses to survive.”
Ms Leckie agreed the skills gained from running a thriving business would be integral to a councillor. She said she unhesitatingly offered her full support to Ms Crowley, whom she called “a person of integrity”.
“I trust that Jane and the ticket, all independent, good community-minded locals, can bring new leadership to council, and restore the dignity and improve the performance of council,” she said.
Nicole Smith, owner of Tin Shed Marketing, is the second candidate on the ticket for Let’s Get It Right. Picture: Let’s Get It Right
Despite this strong backing from high-profile Southern Highlanders, Ms Crowley said the support for the campaign has transcended demographic divides.
“I’ve been humbled by the positive support that we have received from such diverse sectors of the community,” she said.
“We all want outcomes that are community focused, based on genuine community consultation.”
Spokeswoman Cait Tynan said Let’s Get It Right was focusing on consultation with residents to ensure the concerns of different aspects of the shire are heard before the election. The campaign has organised a number of community events at smaller localities throughout the shire in coming months.
“They’re making sure there’s a voice for every part of the Highlands, not just where the high profile people are,” she said.