Recently announced Nationals candidate for the state seat of Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, visited Benalla on Friday, August 12 to meet with the community.
Ms Cleeland was only recently announced as the candidate and is spending some time touring the length and breadth of the electorate — all 11,600 sq km.
While in the Rose City she took some time out of her schedule to speak to the Ensign and introduce herself.
“This is my happy place,” Ms Cleeland said.
“My husband and I grew up in Mansfield and we’ve lived and worked all over regional Victoria since then.
“Four years ago we purchased our farm near Seymour and we keep Merino sheep and bees.”
Ms Cleeland said she decided to run for the seat due to her passion to advocate for regional communities.
"When you are a living and breathing part of a community you can see where we are in desperate need of investment,” she said.
"Investment to ensure it is a beautiful place that my children can live without disadvantage.
“My motivation is because I had a glorious upbringing in Mansfield.
“It is a supportive community where everyone wants you to succeed.
“But in the past eight years there has not been adequate investment in regional Victoria, and we have to fight for our basic needs.
“The disparity of investment between Melbourne and regional Victoria means that the wellbeing of our community is being impacted.
“You just have to look at Benalla Police Station. Steph (Ryan) fought for years for it to replaced.
“It was the most outdated 24/7 police station in the state. It got to the point that it was crumbling before we got a new one funded.
“We have disadvantage in our healthcare, education and all of the services in our communities.”
Ms Cleeland said her decision to run was one she would not have taken without the support of her family.
“I think, it wasn’t just me that made the decision,” she said.
“My husband is looking to adjust his work to be the primary carer of our children.
“It is an intense job in terms of time and emotional commitment. I know it will come with personal sacrifice.
"There are not many opportunities in your life where you have the potential to have such purpose.
“But it will be worth it for my children to have the chance to live in a region that has the potential to prosper.”
Policy wise Ms Cleeland said she was supporting the regional infrastructure guarantee.
“That will be a game changer when it comes to capital investment to support the growth of the region,” she said.
“I also want to see equality of investment in health and education.
“I’m meeting with user groups at Benalla’s Indoor Recreation Centre today (Friday, August 12).
“Investment in facilities like that is something I am really keen to focus on.”
Ms Cleeland said another area of focus would be affordable housing and addressing cost of living issues.
“How to tackle that comes back to that quality of investment,” she said.