MidCoast Council election candidate - Dr Elizabeth McEntyre

Elizabeth McEntyre is an ungrouped candidate seeking election as a Councillor in next week's MidCoast Council election.

This profile has been placed on the website on her request, as follows:

Dr Elizabeth McEntyre is a Worimi Gringai Elder belonging to Lands and Waters spanning Port Stephens, the Myall Lakes, and Barrington Tops. Aunty Liz lives in Tea Gardens and has been connected to this area from birth. As a founding Elder of the Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Aboriginal Reference Group, she has led and collaborated on numerous community uplift ventures with MidCoast Council, Tea Gardens Public School, Myall River Art Walk Group, Myall Koala and Environment Group, and Department of Primary Industries Fisheries. 

She volunteers expertise to the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service Hunter Central Coast area, and Port Stephens Great Lakes Marine Park to protect and preserve Country for present and all future generations.

A Doctor of Social Work and Criminology, Aunty Liz strongly believes: 

"‘Communities connecting and belonging can improve the wellbeing of all. As a Councillor, I will ensure the vision of the Community is realised: MidCoast is a place of unique environmental and cultural           significance. Our strong community connection, coupled with our innovative development and growing economy, builds the quality of life we value. For me, it doesn’t matter where I go in Worimi Country I feel that sense of belonging. What would having this connection mean? I think that Council and Communities need to be having that yarn. Two-way learning, respect, collaboration, and adapting with the community are critical for shaping the future of our area. 

It's now time for me to serve the MidCoast area as a Councillor, and to utilise my collective knowledge, experience, skills and qualities to share with the Community I belong to and respect genuinely, who I collaborate with to bring benefits to everyone, and who I see thriving on and with Country to enhance wellbeing".

This article has been authorised by Dr Elizabeth McEntyre.