About Stephen
I was born on 14 January 1963 in Box Hill, Victoria. Grew up in Blackburn South. In 1984 I graduated in Economics at Monash University in Clayton.
Employment
After university I was employed in various roles in the federal public service assessing complex financial arrangements in relation to pension entitlements. During that time, I was a workplace union delegate for several years.
Move to the Otways
In 1990 I purchased land adjoining Melba Gully, near Lavers Hill, with my partner and in 1995 we purchased an old house in Lavers Hill. Later, in the nineties, when the Government was reducing employment in the public sector I took the opportunity to accept a voluntary redundancy package.
In 1999 we moved permanently to Lavers Hill. In December 2006 we moved to our owner built, solar powered mud brick house on our land adjoining Melba Gully. We re -vegetated some of that land by planting over 4000 indigenous trees.
Colac Otway Shire Council
Through my involvement with the Colac Otway Ratepayers & Residents Association (CORRA) I became aware of the many other failings of the Council including ever increasing debt. I stood for Council at the 2002 election, as an endorsed Green's candidate, and was elected until November 2004. I was defeated at the November 2004 Council election. I am again standing in the November 2008 Council election.
Residents and ratepayers have a unique opportunity to compare a Council with me as a Councillor, from 2002 to 2004, with a Council without me as a Councillor, from 2004 to 2008.
