Shelly has lived in Wannon since she moved to Camperdown about 25 years ago from Tasmania to take up a job in local government. She has since moved to Allansford where she lives with her partner and children on a rural block. She enjoys voluntary work in the community with past roles on school committees, as a Bike Ed coach and more recently with the Warrnambool Pony Club. In Tasmania she was involved in student politics, was a member of the University Council and the Academic Senate and was student union president. Later while working for the Launceston City Council she had voluntary roles on the Board of Theatre North and the Launceston Community Legal Centre.

Shelly has a degree in law, post graduate qualifications in town planning and local government management and currently works as a Community Liaison Officer for a scientific research organisation. Her hobbies are yoga, bushwalking and community advocacy.

Lorraine was born and spent her early years in Casterton before moving to Warrnambool taking up a position at Fletcher Jones. There she worked in product development, then as a production supervisor, before starting up her own business in partnership with a friend, producing made to measure bridal and debutante dresses.

A move to the North East of Victoria gave more opportunities in small business and community projects to be involved with. After many very hot summers, the cool sea breeze and family enticed her back to Warrnambool, where she was able to resume dress making.

Greg grew up in north east Victoria and spent some time living overseas and in Melbourne before moving to Warrnambool about 15 years ago. The move to Wannon was prompted by several things, primarily that it is an excellent place to raise kids but also because his wife’s family are locals, having farmed in the area for several generations.

Greg is trained as an engineer and a secondary school teacher. He taught at Warrnambool College for nearly 10 years and since then has worked in the manufacturing industry in Port Fairy and Cobden, and now in the water industry based in Warrnambool.

Greg is passionate about public education and has been on school council at two of the schools that his children have attended. He enjoys kicking around a soccer ball and has been a volunteer soccer coach with a special interest in enabling girls to join in. During his spare time Greg enjoys exploring the outdoors, spending time with friends and family, and relaxing on the couch watching TV.

Genevieve has lived in the south west of Victoria for 23 years with her partner and four children, two of whom were born in Melbourne and two in Portland. She grew up on a dairy farm on the Mornington Peninsula (when it was rural!).

Genevieve has a Bachelor in Education and has used it to work in schools, small businesses, local council and various community groups. Her passion has always been concerned with social justice, inclusiveness and the promotion of gender equality.

Genevieve has served on the board of Kindergarten Parents of Victoria, South West Community Energy and school councils. She loves history’s lessons and practising art.

Genevieve believes in collaborative and creative thinking in the pursuit of healthy and engaged communities.

Prabha grew up in India and came to Australia in 1983 to marry an Australian. They settled in Melbourne before moving to Teesdale and then Colac, where they have lived since 2012.

He joined the Australian Public Service in 1983 and spent most of his career as an executive and court administrator at the Federal Court of Australia, until his retirement from the service.

Prabha is passionate about democratic reforms and innovations that will empower citizens to participate and contribute towards making a better democracy for themselves.  He is active in contributing towards this goal whether it is through submissions to State and Federal parliaments, letters to the editor, articles for news publications and appearances at council meetings to pursue a better deal for the community.

Prabha has a degree in Commerce and Law as well as a graduate certificate in Public Sector Management.

Barb first lived in rural Victoria, as a young adult, in 1976. She has always been drawn to living in the country and she bought her first home with her husband in what was the electorate of Corangamite, in 1982. Following an interlude of a few years back in Melbourne, she finally was able to retire to Peterborough where she had been a holidaymaker since 1985. The south west of Victoria has been a constant pull and Barb feels strongly connected to the country here, and its people.

Barb has always been dedicated to giving back to her community and has a long history of commitment to issues of social justice and the environment. She is particularly interested in women's issues, the environment, mental health and community development. 

Barb has a Diploma in Corporate Governance, a BA in Social Science, a Post Grad Diploma in Education and a Masters in Educational Management. And she hopes to draw on her skills and experience in governance to strengthen the Voices of Wannon.

Susan is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Warrnambool. She lived in Melbourne until she was in her mid-forties, apart from two years when she taught in Colac. About twenty years ago, she moved with her family to southwest Victoria, living in Mortlake and now in Warrnambool.

For many years, she was disillusioned with politics but felt powerless to act until she heard to the Voices of movement and attended her first Kitchen Table Conversation. She finds the concept of participatory democracy exciting and empowering. She is interested in climate and environmental issues, social justice and equity of access, and integrity and ethics in government and business. She spends time reading, trying to practise art and researching family history.