Killarney's Viva-Lyn Lenehan puts hand up for Moyne Shire Council 2020 elections

She grew up in Lismore, holidayed in Port Fairy and Yambuk, played sport against Mortlake and Hawkesdale, taught at Terang, jumped horses at Hexham and raised a family at Killarney.

"I get the small country town life," she said.

But advocating for Killarney beach access to continue for all, including horse riders, awoke her civic instincts in 2017.

"I am wiser from my experience of campaigning for the community," Ms Lenehan said.

She's now put her hand up to join Moyne Shire Council, as two councillors step down at October's election.

"Moyne Shire is an excellent council. It's only because there's a couple of positions become vacant that I've thought about it," Ms Lenehan said.

She says small towns need a boost, particularly as the coroanvirus tests community togetherness.

"For the council to be relevant it must recognise this retraction in society and return the sense of community," Ms Lenehan said.

Events and community group grants will be even more important, she says, as the council plays its part to "springboard" a recovery.

"Give the community a vested interest in any grants they receive to empower them to take it on and develop," Ms Lenehan said.

"If people feel good about their community they will be motivated to take on new challenges, and try new innovations, to be confident to attract new business opportunity.

"If the mothers need a playground next to the football ground, how does that happen? Empower the community to say 'is this available?'"

Ms Lenehan has been a physical education teacher, owned a Port Campbell tourism business which climbed to the top of online ratings, and operated a construction company.

"What I get is the outlying communities, the Nullawarres, the Panmures, the Mortlakes and the Hexhams," she said.

"I get it because I grew up with those type of things, I grew up with hunting around with horses, and yabbying and billy carting. It's still out there it just needs supporting."

Ms Lenehan is the 11^th candidate to declare she is a Moyne Shire candidate, including five currently sitting councillors.

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