WITH Member for Euroa Steph Ryan stepping down ahead of November’s state election, the Liberal Party will contest the seat for the first time since 2014, preselecting Brad Hearn last week.
Mr Hearn, a fourth-generation horse breeder and farmer from Benalla, has a background in education and psychology, serving as campus principal of the Benalla Flexible Learning Centre and a mental health counsellor.
He said he was passionate about improving the accessibility of health services, as well as access to education and sporting clubs.
“What I have been hearing from constituents at the moment is the need for action on the ongoing burden of cost of living. This includes power bills, dental and transport,” he said.
Mr Hearn ran as a Liberal candidate for Northern Victoria on the Coalition’s upper house ticket at the last election, advocating for education facility upgrades, major projects for local sporting clubs and upgrades to town services such as police stations, art galleries and schools.
“[I am] proud of the projects that were supported from the last election and the work over the past four years, but there is a lot more to do and we haven’t scratched the surface,” he said.
“Advocating for my community is a passion. Community members want to see real direct action for their towns.”
Mr Hearn said he planned to meet with Mitchell Shire Council representatives, as well as upper house members for Northern Victoria Evan Mullholland and Wendy Lovell to discuss the needs of the region.
“I am eager to see in what ways we can help,” he said.
“I am also interested to see the communities take on the impact of the current government’s Crown Land river frontage policy, the need for a hub for community services in towns like Seymour, the current Kilmore government education options and access to public education, the Kilmore bypass and … the needs surrounding the Greenhill recreation precinct.”
Mr Hearn said he intended to offer a point of difference to traditional Nationals voters.
“I am a local. This is my home and we need to support small business and sole traders – this is the value of the Liberal Party,” he said.
“We fight to ensure that small business is better off, that includes farming family businesses, local shops and sole traders. Ultimately if we want to see more state action we need change.
“As a registered member of the health industry I am committed to seeing additional investment in our town services.
“As a teacher I want to see that rural education is a significant priority and see that it is put on the agenda.
“Too long have country schools been ignored and it is time to shine the spotlight on them. Our public education system needs significant work in the rural areas of our state.”
