FORMER Port Fairy publican Damian Gleeson intends running for a seat on Moyne Shire council at October's elections.
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Mr Gleeson, a former president of the town's football-netball club and cricket club, says he is keen to put back into the community as a councillor.
He said values instilled in him by his late parents Jim and Kath could help the shire prosper.
"My eight siblings and I were reminded every day by our parents the value of community," Mr Gleeson said. "We were born and raised in the town. My dad Jim was really big on the local community and the untold work volunteers do in Port Fairy."
He recalls his father selling raffle tickets outside the Port Fairy newsagency and IGA supermarket for countless community groups for more than 50 years.
"The strength of Port Fairy is the local community and volunteers," Mr Gleeson said. "I think the local community and volunteers are sometimes forgotten and undervalued at the council table and I want to be the voice for Port Fairy's community groups and volunteers there."
The former Star Of The West Hotel publican said Moyne's councillors did a good job.
"One of my pet hobby horses is the shed at Port Fairy's Railway Place," Mr Gleeson said.
"It's sat idle for years and years after numerous costly studies by the Moyne Shire at great expense to the ratepayers. It's another hidden gem in Port Fairy and could be a wonderful tourist attraction for the town and the region.
"I think the rail-trail from Port Fairy to Warrnambool is under estimated by the Moyne Shire. We should be putting more money into that facility to encourage people to use it and improve their health and lifestyle."
Mr Gleeson is the fourth candidate to announce a campaign to join the council later this year.
Another former publican Penny Iddon, a Rosebrook resident and once owner of the Lake Bolac Hotel, has thrown her hat in the ring.
Port Fairy's Karen Foster, Moyne Health Services chair and chair of the Leadership Great South Coast is vying for a position while Genevieve Grant, a former primary school teacher and passionate advocate for gender equality and environmental issues, has also announced an intent to stand.
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