ABOUT ME

Hello, I'm Bec Thomas

WHERE I COME FROM

Glenorchy born and bred, I grew up in Lutana 'Rebecca Dance' and went to Bowen Rd Primary School, before moving to West Moonah and onto Ogilvie High. With Dad being a carpenter and Mum working part-time in admin roles, we never went without but didn't do it easy either. From a young age, my brother Adam and I were taught to always look out for others and always do your best.

I enjoyed school, loved playing club netball and basketball and looking back, see that I often took on leadership roles within friendship circles, at school, through sport and in my family (just ask my dad!).

My first job was at 'Purity' Glenorchy Central (Woolworths) when I turned 14 years and 9 months old and I worked there until I was 19. At 18 I got a second job at Cooleys Hotel in Moonah, where I worked throughout my uni degree, until about age 23. Be it the supermarket, pub or council, I've always enjoyed serving my local community.

A THRIVING CAREER

I have experience at all three levels of government in both an administrative and strategic capacity, as well as having my own consultancy business 'Rising Kind', promoting mental health.

I graduated from UTAS with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Psychology and Sociology and First Class Honours in Sociology in 2006, before embarking on a public service career in 2007.

My career has included roles at the Australian Bureau of Statistics; Sport and Recreation Tasmania; the Premier’s Physical Activity Council; the Tasmanian Institute of Sport; the Local Government Division in the Department of Premier and Cabinet; and the Mental Health, Alcohol & Drug Directorate in the Department of Health. Between 2019 and 2021 I worked as an Adviser to the Hon. Sue Hickey MP, Speaker of the House of Assembly and Member for Clark. I became Mayor of Glenorchy in 2021.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE

I was first elected as a Glenorchy City Council Alderman in January 2018 and in 2020 I was elected by my peers as Deputy Mayor following a vacancy. The people of Glenorchy elected me as their Mayor through a by-election in July 2021, following former Mayor Kristie Johnston's election to state parliament, and I was again returned as Mayor in the 2022 ordinary Local Government elections.

My time on council, together with my broader public service experience, has provided me with a sound understanding of good governance and we have worked hard to demonstrate best practice in this at Glenorchy City Council since 2018. In fact, Glenorchy has been referred to as the ‘turnaround council’, as we’ve made our way out of the dysfunction that debilitated our city to set Glenorchy up to thrive and prosper. Other achievements during my time as Mayor include:

-Improved community engagement, with regular Community Yarns and pop-up chats at Northgate, Claremont Village and the Moonah Arts Centre and expansion of the Let’s Talk Glenorchy online platform.

-A focus on community safety – introduced security guards on Council lawns and PCYC program, regular meetings with Glenorchy Police and increased police patrols, ongoing advocacy to Premier for early intervention programs for youth, advocacy to Minister for Road Safety on hooning.

-Capital projects progress – Tolosa Park dam reintegration, Jackson St landfill new cell, Eady St sports amenities building, KGV turf and amenities building replacement, Giblin Reserve and Benjafield Park playspaces, Montrose Skatepark, Glenorchy Mountain Bike Park, 10 local playgrounds.

-Back to basics focus, fully funding renewal of assets and targeted review of services – catch up on asset renewal and leading return to surplus and financial sustainability.

-Hard decisions – DEC & Wilkinson’s Point sale, disposal of underutilised land, BMX relocation, requiring GM to make savings through redundancies, pool closure.

-Helped raise over $70,000 as Chair of the Salvation Army Glenorchy Red Shield Appeal in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

In 2021 I was elected to the Local Government Association of Tasmania’s General Management Committee, to represent and advocate for the local government sector in Tasmania. In the same year I was also elected as a member of the TasWater Board Selection Committee. In 2023 I was elected as Deputy Chief Owners Representative and Board member of the Southern Tasmanian Regional Waste Authority. It has been a great honour to be elected by my peers from southern councils for these roles.

RELATIONSHIPS

I have well established relationships with members of Parliament, staff within the bureaucracy of Government, industry representatives and the not-for-profit sector and have a solid history of forming and maintaining respectful and positive relationships with stakeholders.

I pride myself on being approachable and respectful of all beliefs and views and I am committed to listening and seeking to understand the views of others. I am not a member of or aligned with any political party, and never have been. I truly believe good relationships are the key to achieving outcomes, you simply can't make things happen without them.

BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

In 2019 I founded my own consultancy, Rising Kind, as platform to promote positive mental health and kindness and deliver training.

I am a Mental Health First Aid Australia accredited Mental Health First Aid and Suicide Prevention trainer, providing people with the skills and confidence to have safe conversations about mental health and suicide. Since 2018 I have delivered more than 60 courses, to local workplaces and in the community.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE

I live in Berriedale with my husband of 13 years and life partner since 2004, Ross. I love paddle boarding, op shopping, a day at the races, fund raising, wine tasting and spending time with Kelsey the Kelpie. I pride myself on being genuine, approachable and responsive and love being out and about in the community. Being elected to represent the people of my local community is the best job I could wish for and I am so very grateful for the privilege.

VISION AND MISSION STATEMENT

'A level-headed, collegiate approach and dedication to the people of Elwick'

As Mayor of Glenorchy I’ve shown I’m reliable, hard-working and active in our community.

I share the vision for a safe, well-connected and aspirational community, with

a strong sense of pride and belonging.

As your independent voice in the Legislative Council, I offer thoughtful scrutiny of legislation,

taking on board the views of the people I represent, to achieve the

best outcomes for the people of Elwick.

I will work constructively with parliamentary colleagues to achieve positive change in health, housing, education and youth justice, with a focus on early intervention and breaking the poverty cycle.

I will advocate for community infrastructure to be planned, developed and maintained to meet community needs, providing for good physical and mental health and social connection.

I will do all I can to ensure people are, and feel, safe in our community.

I’ve lived in Glenorchy all 40 years of my life and I love where we live. I’ve been very proud to

represent the people as Mayor of Glenorchy. I have shown I am genuine, approachable and

responsive over the past six years as an elected representative and I’m keen to be

your voice as a member of Parliament.

I have well established, positive relationships at all levels of Government and within our local community and I will continue to work with productively with others to make things happen in Elwick.

I am positive about the future of our area and using my experience and connections as Mayor, I will hit the ground running to make a difference in Parliament.

I’ve demonstrated I am a hard-working representative and offer a level-headed, collegiate approach and dedication to the people of Elwick if I have the honour of representing you in the Legislative Council.