Michael Whelan and Clare Le Serve at last year’s Municipal Association of Victoria’s Councillor Service Awards where she was recognised for
10 years’ service as a Bass Coast councillor. Their retirement from the council ends a long working relationship that changed Bass Coast.
By Catherine Watson
To understand how Clare Le Serve and Michael Whelan changed our lives, I only have to listen to my friends and neighbours talk about the cataract operations, hip replacements, knee replacements, cancer treatment, shoulder reconstructions ... all done at our local hospital.
My friend Mark no longer has to make the dreaded trip to Monash Hospital for life-saving infusions. He now drives five minutes to the Wonthaggi Hospital where he settles in for a few hours with a team who know him well and bring him coffee and sandwiches while he’s infused.
I see the Bass Coast Secondary College’s senior students heading up McKenzie Street to a new campus with the specialist technology and art rooms, multimedia studios, and a massive indoor stadium. I drive past the new junior campus on Potters Hill Road and I still find it hard to believe.
To understand how Clare Le Serve and Michael Whelan changed our lives, I only have to listen to my friends and neighbours talk about the cataract operations, hip replacements, knee replacements, cancer treatment, shoulder reconstructions ... all done at our local hospital.
My friend Mark no longer has to make the dreaded trip to Monash Hospital for life-saving infusions. He now drives five minutes to the Wonthaggi Hospital where he settles in for a few hours with a team who know him well and bring him coffee and sandwiches while he’s infused.
I see the Bass Coast Secondary College’s senior students heading up McKenzie Street to a new campus with the specialist technology and art rooms, multimedia studios, and a massive indoor stadium. I drive past the new junior campus on Potters Hill Road and I still find it hard to believe.
*****
Cast your mind back just 10 years to 2014.
Bass Coast’s only public high school, nearly a century old, is bursting at its antiquated, run-down seams.
Wonthaggi Hospital is little more than a dilapidated bush hospital with mounting debts and declining services and patient numbers. Phillip Island doesn’t even have that. Their bush hospital has closed, unable to meet modern safety standards.
If you need chemotherapy you have to make the long exhausting journey down the highway to a city hospital. Ditto if you need a cataract operation or a new hip. If you have a stroke or heart attack, then cross your fingers that the chopper arrives in time to take you to a real hospital.
As for our council, it’s just limping along. Phillip Island residents complain they get nothing on the island because all their rates money is spent in Wonthaggi. That makes Wonthaggi people laugh. Nobody is getting anything. There’s barely enough rates money to fill the pot holes let alone build new netball courts, clubhouses, footpaths, galleries and walking trails.
All the business cases, all the hopeful letters to Government Ministers, come to nothing. Bass is a safe Liberal seat. The ALP pays it no attention because they can’t win it, and the Liberals pay it no attention because they can’t lose. We all know the problem and we all complain about it, but no one does anything about it.
Bass Coast’s only public high school, nearly a century old, is bursting at its antiquated, run-down seams.
Wonthaggi Hospital is little more than a dilapidated bush hospital with mounting debts and declining services and patient numbers. Phillip Island doesn’t even have that. Their bush hospital has closed, unable to meet modern safety standards.
If you need chemotherapy you have to make the long exhausting journey down the highway to a city hospital. Ditto if you need a cataract operation or a new hip. If you have a stroke or heart attack, then cross your fingers that the chopper arrives in time to take you to a real hospital.
As for our council, it’s just limping along. Phillip Island residents complain they get nothing on the island because all their rates money is spent in Wonthaggi. That makes Wonthaggi people laugh. Nobody is getting anything. There’s barely enough rates money to fill the pot holes let alone build new netball courts, clubhouses, footpaths, galleries and walking trails.
All the business cases, all the hopeful letters to Government Ministers, come to nothing. Bass is a safe Liberal seat. The ALP pays it no attention because they can’t win it, and the Liberals pay it no attention because they can’t lose. We all know the problem and we all complain about it, but no one does anything about it.
*****
On a mid-winter night in Wonthaggi, 2014, after the monthly council meeting, a very small group gather to discuss the problem. There are three Bass Coast councillors – Clare Le Serve, Jordan Crugnale and Neil Rankine – and Michael Whelan, a former senior bureaucrat and ministerial adviser.
Michael gets to the point. To make the seat marginal we need a high-profile independent candidate to take votes off the Liberal Party. It can’t be Neil, because he stood as a Greens candidate in the 2010 state election.
“Okay,” Michael says, turning to Jordan and Clare. “Which one of you is it going to be?”
It’s not the right time for Jordan. She’s got a young family. By the end of the night, Clare has accepted the gig. Not with great enthusiasm. It means months of hard work with no prospect of winning.
“Holy Moly, what have I got myself into?” she thinks later. It’s not as if she doesn’t have enough to do. She’s a shire councillor, a farmer, an activist involved in many things. But she will put her life on hold for five months to campaign because that’s what her community needs.
Michael tells her he’ll organise the campaign. She just needs to front up. He fires out press releases. The more provocative the better. He goads the Liberal Party. They’ve held the seat for 12 years and they’ve done nothing. Retiring Liberal MP Ken Smith takes the bait. He tells ABC Radio that Clare Le Serve is “a nice enough lady” but not tough enough for the rigours of Parliament.
“I‘ve thrown plenty of tough blokes out of the Bass pub in my time,” Clare jokes. She notes that Mr Smith didn’t say anything similar about any of the male candidates. And he knows nothing of her life or achievements.
The community rallies behind her. After decades of community activism, she has plenty of social and political capital. There are fund raisers, trivia nights and raffles, and a couple of serious donations.
The campaign has a slogan: “Make Bass marginal, make it matter.” And they have an issue. The Liberal State Government has announced that Hastings will become the state’s major container port, oblivious to the environmental concerns of communities on both side of the bay.
At the 2014 election Clare secures 10.8 per cent of the vote, almost all of it from the Liberal Party. The Liberal MP’s margin drops from 13 per cent to 4 per cent. Bass is now officially marginal.
Michael gets to the point. To make the seat marginal we need a high-profile independent candidate to take votes off the Liberal Party. It can’t be Neil, because he stood as a Greens candidate in the 2010 state election.
“Okay,” Michael says, turning to Jordan and Clare. “Which one of you is it going to be?”
It’s not the right time for Jordan. She’s got a young family. By the end of the night, Clare has accepted the gig. Not with great enthusiasm. It means months of hard work with no prospect of winning.
“Holy Moly, what have I got myself into?” she thinks later. It’s not as if she doesn’t have enough to do. She’s a shire councillor, a farmer, an activist involved in many things. But she will put her life on hold for five months to campaign because that’s what her community needs.
Michael tells her he’ll organise the campaign. She just needs to front up. He fires out press releases. The more provocative the better. He goads the Liberal Party. They’ve held the seat for 12 years and they’ve done nothing. Retiring Liberal MP Ken Smith takes the bait. He tells ABC Radio that Clare Le Serve is “a nice enough lady” but not tough enough for the rigours of Parliament.
“I‘ve thrown plenty of tough blokes out of the Bass pub in my time,” Clare jokes. She notes that Mr Smith didn’t say anything similar about any of the male candidates. And he knows nothing of her life or achievements.
The community rallies behind her. After decades of community activism, she has plenty of social and political capital. There are fund raisers, trivia nights and raffles, and a couple of serious donations.
The campaign has a slogan: “Make Bass marginal, make it matter.” And they have an issue. The Liberal State Government has announced that Hastings will become the state’s major container port, oblivious to the environmental concerns of communities on both side of the bay.
At the 2014 election Clare secures 10.8 per cent of the vote, almost all of it from the Liberal Party. The Liberal MP’s margin drops from 13 per cent to 4 per cent. Bass is now officially marginal.
*****
Politics is a long game and it takes a couple of years before we see the results. Victoria has a new Labor Government. From early 2017 a steady stream of Ministers head down the Bass Highway to make new funding announcements in Bass Coast. Little ones at first. And then the big ones come.
In October 2017 Premier Daniel Andrews visits Wonthaggi to announce $32.5 million to build a new campus for the Wonthaggi Secondary College.
In February 2018 the Health Minister opens Phillip Island’s $5.8 million health hub.
The next week Andrews is back in Wonthaggi to announce a $115 million expansion of Wonthaggi Hospital.
In October 2017 Premier Daniel Andrews visits Wonthaggi to announce $32.5 million to build a new campus for the Wonthaggi Secondary College.
In February 2018 the Health Minister opens Phillip Island’s $5.8 million health hub.
The next week Andrews is back in Wonthaggi to announce a $115 million expansion of Wonthaggi Hospital.
The long game: the upgraded Wonthaggi Hospital.
“Holy moly!” as Clare would say. We’ve struck it rich! This is beyond our wildest dreams.
Then Bass Coast Mayor Brett Tessari said it almost became embarrassing. “We’d be summoned at short notice for another funding announcement. We were on first name terms with the ministers.”
The Liberal Party wakes up late to the fact that their safe seat is on the brink. They promise a 24-hour medical facility at Cowes, new netball courts, new bowling greens, new clubrooms, new tennis courts, new halls …
The pre-election bidding heats up in the weeks before the election, with both parties promising to fund a new junior high school at San Remo. It's a gold standard election promise, when both parties commit.
In November the ALP secures a swing of almost 7 per cent to win the seat of Bass for the first time. Jordan Crugnale – who had attended that first brainstorming session four years earlier – is elected the new Labor MP.
Then Bass Coast Mayor Brett Tessari said it almost became embarrassing. “We’d be summoned at short notice for another funding announcement. We were on first name terms with the ministers.”
The Liberal Party wakes up late to the fact that their safe seat is on the brink. They promise a 24-hour medical facility at Cowes, new netball courts, new bowling greens, new clubrooms, new tennis courts, new halls …
The pre-election bidding heats up in the weeks before the election, with both parties promising to fund a new junior high school at San Remo. It's a gold standard election promise, when both parties commit.
In November the ALP secures a swing of almost 7 per cent to win the seat of Bass for the first time. Jordan Crugnale – who had attended that first brainstorming session four years earlier – is elected the new Labor MP.
“Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.” |
The seat remains marginal, which is ideal. We don’t want the Labor Party to get complacent either.
*****
The partnership between Clare and Michael didn’t end with the 2014 state election. At the next council election in 2016 Michael joined Clare as a Bass Coast councillor. They have been a formidable team ever since.
Very few councillors manage to achieve anything substantial. The most you can hope for is to provide wise decision making. Michael Whelan is one of the few who actually achieved most of what he set out in his first manifesto, plus a few extras along the way:
How did he do it? Hard work, strategic thinking and a fair bit of bloody mindedness. One of his favourite expressions is “I gave him a whack!” Figurative, of course. But he’s got an acerbic tongue.
During two terms as mayor, from 2021-23, he was on a tight diplomatic leash but once he stepped down from the mayoralty the old Michael was in fine form.
At the next council meeting, he proposed an amendment to the council’s investment policy to more quickly divest from banks funding fossil fuel projects. “The big four banks are a disgrace … This is a way of us saying to the banks: ‘Enough! We’re sick of you! Go away! You’re dirty money.’”
Very few councillors manage to achieve anything substantial. The most you can hope for is to provide wise decision making. Michael Whelan is one of the few who actually achieved most of what he set out in his first manifesto, plus a few extras along the way:
- Berninneit Cultural Centre YES (After three decades of talking, the $32m Cowes Cultural Centre was finally completed late last year.)
- Bass Coast Climate Action Plan YES (Other councils are just starting.)
- Divesting council funds from financial institutions that fund fossil fuel developments YES
- Establishing an independent Enviro fund in partnership with Biodiversity Legacy. YES
How did he do it? Hard work, strategic thinking and a fair bit of bloody mindedness. One of his favourite expressions is “I gave him a whack!” Figurative, of course. But he’s got an acerbic tongue.
During two terms as mayor, from 2021-23, he was on a tight diplomatic leash but once he stepped down from the mayoralty the old Michael was in fine form.
At the next council meeting, he proposed an amendment to the council’s investment policy to more quickly divest from banks funding fossil fuel projects. “The big four banks are a disgrace … This is a way of us saying to the banks: ‘Enough! We’re sick of you! Go away! You’re dirty money.’”
Michael can be defined by his manner and his nature of being forthright. He doesn’t suffer fools gladly and he has no tolerance for bullies. He’s very protective of women doing their job. I think he does a bit of that uplifting stuff with women. Michael pushed me forward a few times when I probably wanted to step back. |
His views on reconciliation and climate action enrage the “anti-woke” brigade. As Bass Coast Mayor, he signed a Joint Statement of Mayors in support of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
He’s a regular target in the letters column and editorials of the Sentinel Times. They would be mortified to know that Michael is blissfully ignorant because he doesn’t read the Sentinel Times and he doesn’t follow social media.
In a piece he wrote for the Post last month about being a councillor, he stated “There are many opinions out there. Usually the loudest and most persistent are not worth much. It is your job to be guided by the evidence. It is a leadership role, not a popularity contest.”
He’s a regular target in the letters column and editorials of the Sentinel Times. They would be mortified to know that Michael is blissfully ignorant because he doesn’t read the Sentinel Times and he doesn’t follow social media.
In a piece he wrote for the Post last month about being a councillor, he stated “There are many opinions out there. Usually the loudest and most persistent are not worth much. It is your job to be guided by the evidence. It is a leadership role, not a popularity contest.”
*****
Clare Le Serve is just as firm about upholding her principles but she is the council’s elder stateswoman, a diplomat and peacemaker.
The first time she was elected mayor of Bass Coast was in November 2012 and she’d been a councillor for just two weeks. Eleven years later, last November, she was re-elected mayor for her swansong year as a Bass Coast councillor. Her diplomacy has been tested this year as she has presided over a council that’s split into progressive and conservative factions.
This week, as she prepared to leave the council after 12 years, she looked back on her long partnership with Michael. She says they often laugh about the state election campaign. “That meeting was a defining moment. That was the first time I met Michael. I felt a bit light on but he brought that professionalism to the state election campaign. He was the key driver. It wouldn’t have happened without that.”
The first time she was elected mayor of Bass Coast was in November 2012 and she’d been a councillor for just two weeks. Eleven years later, last November, she was re-elected mayor for her swansong year as a Bass Coast councillor. Her diplomacy has been tested this year as she has presided over a council that’s split into progressive and conservative factions.
This week, as she prepared to leave the council after 12 years, she looked back on her long partnership with Michael. She says they often laugh about the state election campaign. “That meeting was a defining moment. That was the first time I met Michael. I felt a bit light on but he brought that professionalism to the state election campaign. He was the key driver. It wouldn’t have happened without that.”
Clare’s a committed councillor who has worked doggedly for the Western Port Ward. You don’t get between her and a dollar for her Ward! She always works with integrity and you know you can trust her word. She is also up for the hard decision and after careful consideration will commit. |
Equally important were council reforms that started during her first council term from 2012-16. A new CEO and team put Bass Coast Shire on a sound financial footing that at last enabled them to fund new capital works.
One of the first major projects to proceed was the $2.5 million Bass Valley Children’s Centre at Corinella, which Clare had nominated as one of her priorities when she stood for the council in 2012. “As a grandmother, I had seen many young families in the Waterline area struggling with the need for long day care and vocational care.”
In the end the children's centre was a combined effort by the council, State Government, community and a committee of young mothers. Typically, it was Clare who had pulled it all together.
Clare Le Serve and Michael Whelan are not contesting the 2024 council election.
One of the first major projects to proceed was the $2.5 million Bass Valley Children’s Centre at Corinella, which Clare had nominated as one of her priorities when she stood for the council in 2012. “As a grandmother, I had seen many young families in the Waterline area struggling with the need for long day care and vocational care.”
In the end the children's centre was a combined effort by the council, State Government, community and a committee of young mothers. Typically, it was Clare who had pulled it all together.
Clare Le Serve and Michael Whelan are not contesting the 2024 council election.