Local Government Elections 2025: Shire of Denmark candidates share why you should vote for them

In the lead-up to the upcoming October 18 local government election, the Advertiser contacted all nine candidates vying for four vacant positions in the Shire of Denmark council, including incumbent councillors Jan Lewis, Jackie Ormsby, Clare Campbell and Donna Carman.

They were asked the following four questions:

1. What experiences and values will you bring to the role of councillor?
2. What do you consider the five most pressing issues in the Shire of Denmark?
3. How would you address the above?
4. Describe your perfect day in the Shire of Denmark.

Each candidate was given a maximum of 100 words per answer and several days to respond. They appear below in ballot order.

Here are the candidates that responded from 5 - 9 in the ballot.

Name: Serena Kirby

Profession: Freelance journalist and photographer

Age: 63

Time lived in LGA: 21 years

Q1: Community connection is central to who I am. After 35 years as a journalist, I bring strong communication skills, grounded in listening and learning. My local reporting experience gives me a unique insight into our shire — its people, its issues and concerns. I have policy and governance experience, and volunteer on the Denmark Community Resource Centre board. I’m passionate about guiding fair, responsible growth in our shire and am well known for being honest, ethical, and respectful of processes and diverse views. I’m also a positive, proactive person who’s both responsive and accountable.

Q2: Managing the increasing visitation numbers in a way that boosts benefits for the community and reduces impacts on our infrastructure and environment. The shortage of affordable housing. Maintaining our extensive road network and ageing infrastructure on a limited budget. Preparing for the relocation of our main supermarket and ensuring the town centre remains vibrant, vital and viable while retaining its village-style feel. Providing facilities and services for our older residents while balancing the needs of our younger and newer residents.

Q3: By reviewing studies done on other destinations experiencing high visitor numbers. These studies reveal worthwhile strategies including embedding “responsible tourism” initiatives into the overarching tourism strategy. Responsible tourism is action driven; it involves creating achievable actions that visitors and tourism providers can do to minimise harm and make a positive impact. Securing State and Federal grants for social housing and more affordable housing is also key. Fast tracking the development of an “activation plan” for the town that would include visual appeal additions and improvements plus activities and events that draw people in and promote community pride and inter-generational connection.

Q4: An ideal day includes heading to town for a cuppa, seeing familiar faces, then an interview and photo shoot with someone who has a great story to share. My perfect day would also include a vegetable swap with a couple of friends as a catalyst for connecting and attending a board meeting as meetings like that fill me with purpose. There’d also be time for beaching or gardening before gathering with friends for sunset drinks. The perfect day would be a mix of connection, curiosity and community combined with purpose and play.

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Name: Jackie Ormsby

Profession: Psychologist and farmer

Age: Not supplied

Time lived in LGA: Ratepayer for 15 years, full-time resident for nine years

Q1: I have served as a councillor in Denmark for four years, gaining experience from both colleagues and council officers. My background includes senior public service roles in the Federal and State governments, business ownership, and leadership positions on not-for-profit boards. Currently, I run a psychology practice in Denmark, and my husband and I are farmers. I am committed to serving the Denmark community with honesty, integrity, transparency, fairness, and respect, striving for accountable, collaborative decision-making and encouraging community engagement. I endeavour to act with accountability and a collegial approach to decision making with a willingness to engage in community consultation.

Q2: Housing affordability. Protection of the natural environment. Ensuring sufficient employment opportunities for residents. Providing adequate sport and recreation and youth/senior services. Improving infrastructure.

Q3: These issues are actively being addressed through initiatives and strategic planning, priorities that were identified through extensive community consultation in the shire’s Our Future 2033 strategic plan.

Q4: My perfect day in the Shire of Denmark starts with a peaceful walk or swim at one of our stunning beaches, followed by a catch-up with friends over coffee or wine at a local cafe or vineyard. I’d enjoy dinner at one of our fantastic restaurants and finish the day relaxing at home with family and friends, embracing the community spirit and natural beauty that make Denmark so special.

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Name: Jay Hockey

Candidate did not provide a response.

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Name: Julie Marsh

Profession: Not supplied

Age: 61

Time lived in LGA: Almost 16 years

Q1: I’m passionate when it comes to social and climate justice. I’ve been advocating for disability, education, and our natural environment for more than 40 years, taking on guardianship and the education system. I have broad and varied experiences, from working in corporate Perth for more than 20 years, to working in schools, running a small advocacy business, and endless volunteering. I grew into leadership roles, facilitating and developing complex workflows. I am a people person with capacity to look at the bigger picture. My core values: taking care of our earth, honesty, opposing rising inequality, and peace and non-violence.

Q2: Strong action on climate. Development of long-term sustainable waste and green waste systems. Supporting people struggling with housing, and ensuring rigorous due diligence in planning and building codes is retained, and approvals are processed in a timely manner. Developing strategies in conjunction with State government for bush fire mitigation and prevention, and prescribed burns reform placing nature protection at the heart of policy (whilst strengthening community protection) — this is absolutely viable and necessary. Actively safeguarding our village feel.

Q3: Our shire work hard on communicating and understanding the wide range of needs in our community on a small budget, communicating successfully with community is a challenge. However, it is the heart of a cohesive community to be connected and work together. We could be bolder in seeking and accessing funds for leading edge projects in areas such as waste management. We also need to work very proactively with State government on a range of issues. Be in the street talking to people about our village feel and issues. Develop more links to community groups through councillors’ participation and feedback.

Q4: An early morning walk to take in the inlet and forest views from the top of the hill, or a walk around the Denmark river. Time at home with my veggies and permaculture routine, of making compost, planting and harvesting and putting my hands in the dirt. A cuppa on the veranda watching the birds and ducks. If I’m lucky to harvest produce to make a preserve or at least make dinner. A walk or beach swim, along with a casual chat and watching the sunset. Home for a book by the fire, or dinner with a few friends.

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Name: Donna Carman

Profession: Not supplied

Age: Not supplied

Time lived in LGA: 18 years

Q1: Four years experience as a current councillor. 15 years of local community arts and environmental projects, as employment and volunteering; working for small businesses throughout our district in a range of hospitality and gardening roles. Advocating for mixed housing, environmental priorities as identified in community surveys, working towards rate revenue rises being CPI only. Social equity, access and inclusion, and facilitating meaningful communications with the community. Always careful consideration in decision making based on staff reports, results of consultation, council discussion and shared knowledge, even when at times it overrides my personal wishes.

Q2: The most pressing issues are housing, environmental, rates and tourism.

Q3: Housing: through supporting council to be advocating to all levels of government and shire planning documents identifying suitable land. Environmental: our custodian role of bushland, beaches and wildlife needs consideration in all decisions. Rates: potential for the compounding effects of annual rate rises above CPI to get out of hand. This is being addressed somewhat and potentially worked towards by council through an “asset renewal plan” getting us into shape with complementary depreciation and robust financial planning. Listening to each other and to notice what we have in common. Tourism: this is incrementally being addressed and needs to be continued.

Q4: A swim at Greens Pool, brunch at a local cafe, some time at home writing, some gardening and connecting with neighbours, cooking with luscious local produce, a walk in a nearby park then stopping for mezze and a glass of wine with friends on the way home.