A chance encounter would shape Clare’s life

CLARE Williams may have grown up in country New South Wales alongside her sister and three brothers, but her heart and bright smile is now firmly in South Gippsland. The place she has called home for over a decade after studying early learning in Melbourne.
“I travelled around Australia working in early years (after my course) and moved to Leongatha about 14 years ago now,” Clare explained.
“My husband and I moved here to start a business. I went back to early years education, while he was working in civil construction.
“I did the career transfer as our family grew – it was a little bit easier to be working in the family business. I could move my role to what I needed it to be around the children.
“But as time has gone on, and things have changed, and I’ve grown, I started looking outside at what I could do and what I wanted my future to be and, and that for my kids.
“I could see lots of things that were happening in our region. I thought, can I stand up and say something? I’m not sure and it went by the wayside. You just hope that somebody’s doing the best they can for their community.
“And then the door opened, and I had this opportunity. I got tapped on the shoulder, ‘would you be interested to run for local government?’
“There was no real interest at the start, I thought there’s no way that I could achieve that – I’m just a mum and a woman, there’s no point in me even trying to do it. And then I got some encouragement.”
Putting her mind to it is exactly what Clare did as she walked through the door.
“It has turned out to be the best thing ever!
“The opportunity for me to be at a strategic table and be able to represent my demographic is the opportunity of a lifetime. As a parent, you want the best that you can give your kids, and this is one way that I can do that.”
Experience in small business is also one of the many attributes Clare brings to the table.
“To watch my husband build a business from scratch was really hard. When we started to do it together, developing it to the next level – it was really tough. Because of that experience you know what everyone’s going through in small business and that definitely helps when I get to the table because it’s a lived experience and the challenges that come with it.”
And whilst her role as deputy mayor has added to her schedule, Clare has continued to find time for the many community groups she was active in prior to her accession to council.
“I am still involved with some of the community groups at different levels. I was helping out with the Leongatha community markets, Leongatha Business Association, the community gardens. We collaborated a lot for events too. This will be the first year I am not doing the Daffodil Street Festival, which I did for six years.
“I remember the first Daffodil Street Festival – I remember not sleeping that night and thinking no-one is going to come. I was so nervous I made myself sick… To see the street full of community life, I was so appreciative that people turned up – it was beautiful. I remember looking around thinking what a pack of legends!”
Looking to the future Clare’s aspirations are like many other inspirational women across the community.
“An economically strong future in South Gippsland. I want strong economic growth. I want (the next generation) to be able to finish school and secure a job locally – to be successful here.
“I want to protect our farmland – protect what we have so my kids can see and enjoy the same things we enjoy now.
“In the future I want to see equity – I don’t want people to have to look at gender or what type of role they are playing. It doesn’t matter where you come from or who you are, it truly matters what you can achieve.”
For the next generation…
“Just get involved and don’t take no for an answer. If there is a part of you that wants to do something go and chase it.
“What I’d tell my 12-year-old self, if I’m completely honest, would be to join a youth council because local government is the most interesting place to be.”