I first came to Brimbank when I moved to Keilor Downs in 1986. It’s where I went to Saint Mary McKillop Primary School, and I’ve lived in the west all my life since then.
I enjoy visiting our local parks – especially Brimbank Park and Linear Park. I love to visit our local cafes and restaurants, and I also enjoy going to community events, art galleries, and sampling our local produce and cuisine.
Earlier this year in February, I was able to attend the Community Picnic and Music Fest for the Taylors Lakes Lions, the local service club. The bands and artists had gone months without audiences, and the service club itself suffered a lot of disruption from the pandemic. This had impacted their ability to support charities and local projects. For me, things like this highlight how much we miss out on when our community suffers.
Over the years, I have seen for myself how the West has grown, but I have also seen it neglected. The gap between East and West has widened.
That’s what first motivated me to run for Council – to make sure the West is heard when it demands change.
As a Councillor, I’ve vowed to listen to the community, to respond to queries, to be available, and to act in the best interests of the community and municipality.
I feel privileged to be representing the community, as part of a Council that is dedicated to advocating for more funding for Brimbank, and to making Brimbank a better place for all.
Just a couple of weeks ago, before the recent lockdown, I was pleased to see our community enjoying the new Civic Green created on Hampshire Road Sunshine. It was great to have a chat with so many local families who came out to enjoy the official opening of the new space.
Last month, I had the opportunity to go on a Brimbank Bus Tour with my fellow councillors. It was great to check in at key locations across Brimbank, discuss the significance of these places and how these could be enhanced further.
I would love to see more open green spaces, parks with updated equipment, a focus on youth, better services for the disadvantaged, and the widening of Taylors Road.
As part of my Brimbank Proud portfolio, I want to attract more visitors and investors to our City, and highlight how our community is filled with such culture and diversity. It’s our greatest strength.
Even though the ongoing pandemic has made many things more difficult for all of us, Brimbank is still a welcoming and vibrant place. The people who live and work here deserve to feel proud of it.
I’m very passionate about Brimbank, and always have been. And I’m always happy to hear from community members who have ideas about how to make our City even better.
You can contact Maria Kerr at CrKerr@brimbank.vic.gov.au or 0437 796 630.
