22/09/2025
I want to be judged on my own merits.
People have asked what it means for Diane and I to both be on Council. For me, itās simple, weāve always stood shoulder to shoulder serving this community.
After my back injury and eight surgeries, I couldnāt return to full-time work. But I still wanted to give back. We opened up our second property in Gosnells as Jacaranda House, a space for the community to use freely for three years. Hundreds of people passed through our doors and were embraced by our family. When the communityās needs shifted, and our son Samās computer project grew, we adapted, and thatās how Sam's Spares Inc was born.
Diane and I personally paid the $10,000 deposit to help Sam move into his new building. Weāve volunteered countless hours and made real personal sacrifices to make sure Samās Spares didnāt just survive, but thrived. In just one year, it delivered over a million dollars in free technology to families and schools right here in WA. Should we have not done that together? Was that a conflict of interest? Of course not. It was love for our community.
None of that was paid. We didnāt do it for recognition. We did it because service is who we are.
So when I hear people say, āBut your wife is a councillor,ā honestly it makes me sad. Why should that diminish what I bring? I am my own person, with my own voice, my own experiences, and my own heart for this community. To suggest that Diane and I would always think or vote the same is a bit ridiculous how many husbands and wives do you know who agree on everything? We donāt at home, and we certainly wonāt in Council.
I canāt work full-time anymore, but I still have plenty to give. Council is my way of continuing to serve bringing resilience, lived experience, and a deep passion to see Gosnells thrive.
Judge me on my heart, my work, and my commitment.
Thatās all I ask.