Ryde Council Election candidates Group F: To run for election, one needs to form a group of four candidates. It’s an honour that Councillor Justin invited me to participate as the 4th candidate in his team. Please support this councillor running for re-election, as he is currently the only Asian councillor in the City of Ryde. Without him, there would not have been any Asian representation on the local council. He is also a highly intelligent full time lawyer, displaying great abilities in planning and problem solving.
People may ask, “Yvonne, how did you get involved in this?”People may wonder why a councillor suddenly invited me onto his team. Actually, I had quite a bit of interaction with the Ryde Council last year:
Last year there were some people stirring up the issue of the "illegal boarding house" in the media using examples of the most poorly managed shared accommodations, and this became a hot topic amongst the residents living in the Macquarie University surrounds. Suddenly, hundreds of Asian house owners/landlords in the City of Ryde got reported by people accusing them of running "illegal boarding houses" and the Ryde Council was invasively inspecting people’s homes on a large scale. Even I got accused. The scary thing was, whoever it is that were reporting their suspicions didn't even try to communicate with the property owners first: it almost seemed like people are generalising Asians property owners and assuming that they’re are running "illegal boarding house" like those worst examples in the media. A further complicating factor is that many of the inspection victims could not speak for themselves because their "English is no good", so several victims asked me for help because they felt bullied, plus I was getting angry that council keep sending unfriendly inspectors to inspect my house and letters threatening to fine me $1million! Eventually I got so irritated by this issue that I spoke to some councillors, and that's how I had the chance to interact with some of the more reasonable-minded councillors, Clr Justin Li being one of them, and this was one of the reasons why I accepted his invitation to be part of his team. It's not just the supportive councillors, there are many non-councillors who worked hard behind the scenes as well, expressing the landlords’ perspective in council meetings, and making arrangements to create the opportunity for property owners to speak to the local MP Victor Dominello as well as negotiating with some local residents regarding solutions to the issue. Then things slowly began to quiet down.
Matthews 22:39 "thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself"! So, if your neighbours look like they may need some help, please try to communicate first. Please do not prejudge without attempting to communicate first. People who truly care for the community aim to create harmony amongst people, not riots.
About the candidates:
COUNCILLOR JUSTIN LI ▲ Aged 30, solicitor and Eastwood resident ▲ Independent councillor, representing the people of Ryde since September 2008.
▲ Advocates for common sense solutions that reflect the views and values of the majority of Ryde residents. ▲ Has represented residents in all matters big and small, from the thousands of residents opposed to the Civic Centre development, to helping the family with an uncollected garbage bin on the odd occasion. ▲ Takes a keen interest in public facilities, traffic matters, parking, crime, the arts, promoting cultural harmony and youth issues. ▲ Former student of Eastwood Heights Public School and Normanhurst Boys High School
IAN HARDWICK has lived in Ryde for over 40 years, with 3 adult children. He has been an active community volunteer with the Gladesville Uniting Church, Lions, Rotary and is a director of Life Education devoting his time to teach local kids to say no to drugs and alcohol.
PAT GILCHRIST and her husband John have lived in Denistone for over 16 years, and have 3 adult children. Pat has a background in urban planning and is passionate about architecture, regional and community arts, as well as children and youth mentoring. A dedicated volunteer, she is secretary of the Eastwood Croquet Club.
DR YVONNE WANG is a resident of North Ryde and a GP in multicultural Eastwood, with an unusual background of having lived in five different countries by the time she was 18. She actively serves in the 1503 Bread of Life Christian Church, which runs one of its Sunday services in the West Ryde Community Centre.
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