LIBERAL - Dee Bocking
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I am a long term resident of the Central Coast and as a child spent every school holidays at Ettalong, before eventually moving here in 1992.
I worked for (then called) 2GO radio station where I worked to improve small business revenue streams.
I then went to work for the Australian Red Cross as the Regional Fundraiser.
I organised volunteers for the annual Red Cross Calling Appeal, as well as raising vital funds for the service via Art Unions.
I left this vital work to concentrate on being a mother to my two small children.
ANSWERS TO RESIDENTS' QUESTIONS
I joined several local organisations and volunteered my time with projects such as Clean-Up Australia and the Community Christmas Party as well as Anzac Day and school events.
In 2006 I started work with Weight Watchers in Woy Woy as a leader, later coach, to hundreds of members.
I facilitated their learning on health as well as mentored and supported members through an often difficult journey.
I went on to coach at several other venues and well known for this work.
I was a councillor at Gosford City Council from 2012 - 2016 (pre-amalgamation).
This role brought me into contact with many residents and I worked tirelessly to assist them with their concerns and issues.
Most notably I supported the local community of Ettalong when they opposed the Ferry Rd boarding house development.
Despite Council staff and other councillors recommending approval, I undertook to support residents' rights and eventually the project was relocated away from the beach.
I put the residents first and was always open to hearing their issues.
In 2015, I also opened my own small business in East Gosford.
I became acutely aware of the challenges of operating a business with regulations, staff issues and financial viability.
I have an understanding and empathy for small business employers and employees.
Currently I support the community as an at home NDIS and Aged persons' Support Worker.
I feel strongly about their right to access services that support their independence.
This includes being able to traverse the roads safely for exercise and travel, home care and daily personal needs assistance and pain reduction.
I support the Liberal Government that is assisting families with over $950 per child available to parents through the five vouchers as well as the pre-school fee relief up to $4220 per year.
I am very happy that the Liberal Government has announced that three fee-free pre-Kindergarten schools will be in the Gosford Electorate - at Ettalong, Kariong and East Gosford public schools, so that four-year-olds get the best start to schooling in a play-based learning environment.
Gosford will have a new university at one end of Mann St and a new TAFE at the other.
This will mean our school leavers will not have to travel very far for world class education.
One of my biggest wishes is for Council to put footpaths in every local street, so that people don't have to traverse the road.
If elected, I will work with State and Local Governments to ensure that grant funding is available to Council to fix our roads and that the work gets done.
I will also work with Council and State Government to secure funding for social housing and the protection of environmentally-sensitive lands.
Our beautiful coast is full of opportunities to add land to the Coastal Open Space Scheme.
However I acknowledge that housing must be built, especially for those with low incomes and front line workers.
I supports the great work done by many agencies in trying to lower the incidence of homelessness on the Coast, especially those fleeing from domestic violence.
The health of our residents is also important and if elected will advocate that parking at Gosford Hospital is free.
The 38 new doctors who have just started at Gosford will be just the beginning, with a push to hire more nurses, midwives, and paramedics of utmost importance.
I am also proud that the Liberals are taking the load off GPs by empowering pharmacies to provide some scripts to patients, saving them having to wait to see a GP or go to a local hospital.
In conclusion, I am empathetic, action driven individual who has an understanding of the needs of a wide variety of people and am not afraid to stand up for them in seeking government funding, advocacy and support.
Service to others is in my blood.
That's why I want to be the Member for Gosford.
To serve you.
SOURCE:
Media Statement, 17 Mar 2023
Dee Bocking, Liberal