The annual Maroondah Business Week breakfast is one of the premiere events of the week, with this year’s event including premiership-winning footballer and coach David Parkin as the keynote speaker.

David spoke about his experience with teams, drawing on his time within the AFL and the need for genuine appraisals and performance reviews to ensure success. Teams need to move in the same direction and while individual members should utilise their key strengths they need to ensure that they work collectively for the benefit of the team.

David cited three key statements to evaluate someone’s contribution including:

• Can I still make a difference?
• Do I still have a passion to make a difference?
• Am I still respected by those that I serve?

In evaluating David’s comments I couldn’t help but think of council and the current divisions which are preventing the municipality from reaching its full potential. While people like myself and Jo-anne have the passion, desire and respect to ensure that we are making a difference, it is unfortunate that the gang of four are preoccupied by their egos, rather than community outcomes.

A total of eleven candidates have nominated for the Mullum Ward and it is clear that a number of these candidates are standing due to a desire by some of the other councillors to oust Jo-anne and myself.

While some of the other councillors appear concerned by the new ward structure, Jo-anne and I are working as a team in our bid to be re-elected. Over the past three years Jo-anne has been incredibly supportive and I strongly believe that a united team is exactly what Maroondah needs to ensure a sustainable, accessible and accountable future.