Jeni Jobe - Island Ward Where do you live?
I live in San Remo, looking out over Phillip Island.
How long have you lived in Bass Coast?
I was born in Warley Hospital, Cowes in 1972. I went to kinder and school at Cowes Primary and high school at Newhaven college.
What is your previous community involvement (voluntary work or membership), either in Bass Coast or another area?
Since 2013 I have contributed to many local groups and organisations. I know the difference quality graphics can make to get the message out there, so I either donate the work or invoice at highly reduced rates. I celebrate the work our community groups do and contribute the best way I can.
I live in San Remo, looking out over Phillip Island.
How long have you lived in Bass Coast?
I was born in Warley Hospital, Cowes in 1972. I went to kinder and school at Cowes Primary and high school at Newhaven college.
What is your previous community involvement (voluntary work or membership), either in Bass Coast or another area?
Since 2013 I have contributed to many local groups and organisations. I know the difference quality graphics can make to get the message out there, so I either donate the work or invoice at highly reduced rates. I celebrate the work our community groups do and contribute the best way I can.
- Totally Renewable Phillip Island
- Energy Innovation Co-operative
- Newhaven Primary School - my kids' school
- Boomerang Bags Phillip Island and San Remo 2015
- Free 3D Hands 2019 ongoing
- Island Story Gatherers
- ArtSpace Wonthaggi 2019
- Archies Bald Portrait Prize
- Preserve Western Port 2013
- Phillip Island Community and Learning Centre (PICAL)
- Biyadin Festival 2017
Have you stood for election before in local, state or federal government?
This is my first time standing for election at any level of government.
Do you belong to a political party?
I do not belong to any political party, when voting I like to look at the candidate’s policies and go from there
Name the five local issues that you consider most important and explain how you think the council should tackle them.
Issue 1: Current economic crisis.
Rebuilding our local economy is a daunting task. Businesses can flourish when they have a collaborative relationship with each other and their council, and feel that they are a valued part of the Bass Coast economy, rather than merely a source of revenue. I also believe we should expand on our natural tourism approach to include art tourism. This would benefit our cultural identity as well as our economic situation.
Issue 2: Dual nature of Phillip Island the destination / Phillip Island the home.
The island is more than its permanent population. Its great swelling of numbers during the high season puts huge demands on our infrastructure and our high street businesses. Equal attention needs to be paid to both sides of the coin and some thought given to the beach end of Thompson Avenue and the way it supports the visitor trades.
Issue 3: Vic Roads plans for San Remo doorstep and Newhaven entrance.
Vic Roads is doing a city solution for a tourist town, and it’s too heavy-handed and won’t solve the problem. I’ve been sharing the information on social media, but more needs to be done to inform people about what is on the cards.
Issue 4: Education about reducing our carbon footprint, sustainability, respect for our natural world, self empowerment
I volunteer with a collective called Totally Renewable Phillip Island, which is committed to making Phillip Island carbon neutral by 2030. I manage their facebook page and create all of the branding, illustrations and promotional campaigns. To achieve carbon neutrality we have to communicate with all levels of community, starting at the very beginning. I am a key member of the Education Working Group, which held an education pilot program at Newhaven Primary School. We invited representatives from TRPI’s working groups to volunteer once a week to Mentor students in developing a stronger awareness of energy usage, waste management, carbon insetting and how their actions can contribute to their school, their town and their homes working towards becoming carbon neutral. during the first term. We talked to the entire school about the difference they could make inside their school community and outside in their hometowns and households. The program was warmly received and the kids separated into working groups of their own. In a very short time the school achieved the following:
- no pollution days were held
- Nude food was reinstated
- Letters were written to shops about single use plastics
- Natives were planted to help sequester carbon in the soils
- A worm farm was donated and set up
- Veggie garden worked over
- Rubbish audit was completed and analysed
Issue 5: Creation of maker spaces as areas of community connection and mental health and wellbeing.
I would like to seek funding for a Phillip Island MakerSpace, much in the spirit of Nillumbik Council. These are communal spaces for creative pursuits, they provide a space where people can get together to create things in the company of other makers. Creative social spaces coordinated by volunteers to provide opportunities for people to socialise and skill share. Phillip Island has a large share of single person households that would benefit from a service like this. https://www.livinglearningnillumbik.vic.gov.au/For-Makers/MakerSpaces