AFTER years of being “Mr mum”, Lake Boga resident Chris Lahy is hoping to
undertake a new challenge — as a councillor for Swan Hill Rural City Council.
As the primary carer of five children Mr Lahy said his interest in politics
had often taken a back seat, but his desire to represent others and a strong
position on the future Swan Hill Bridge and youth affairs has pushed him to run
in this year’s general election.
The soccer-mad dad was originally a dairy
farmer from Tullakool but moved his family to Lake Boga in 2007 to reduce travel
time for his wife’s work in Swan Hill and to access medical support for their
son Elijah, who has Down’s Syndrome.
He has been trained to work with
at-risk youth, and as a former radio broadcaster he was involved in a local
youth broadcast training program in 2009 and 2010.
If elected, Mr Lahy said
he would like to address local employment and training opportunities to reduce
the evacuation of youth to higher education in city centres.
“I know a lot
of kids struggle when they move to urban areas for higher education,” he
said.
“We can create some real opportunities and alternatives to leaving
home.”
He also earmarked roads, bridges and border crossings as big
issues.
For more of this story see today’s Guardian (October 5, 2012).
