By Jamie Salter
Wayne Farnham’s campaign as Liberal candidate for Narracan has kicked off.
And he has big plans for the electorate, which covers parts of Cardinia Shire and Baw Baw Shire.
Mr Farnham was born and raised in Warragul, and his family has lived in the area for the last 100 years.
The youngest of eight children, Mr Farnham has five sisters and two brothers and said there was never a dull moment.
“My mum is half Italian and my family is quite diverse; it gives me a broader understanding of how people feel. Christmas is always interesting,” Mr Farnham said.
He studied at Warragul Technical School and has worked in construction his entire career, completing his apprenticeship with his father who was a small business owner.
Still living in Warragul and having two grown up children, Mr Farnham said he understood his community well.
“Before you get interested in politics, you’re interested in your community and over the years I’ve coached football and netball clubs and have sponsored lots of local sporting and community events,” he said.
“You really do have to have a love of where you live and feel connected to your community before you run for government.
“I’ve been in construction literally my whole life so I’ve done big jobs in Melbourne and small jobs in regional Victoria. I’ve been in the trenches and gotten my hands dirty – I feel like Pinocchio because I’m just a real boy.”
Mr Farnham said his reason for running in the upcoming November election was to have a positive impact on his community and change lives for the better.
He said it was the right time to “step up“ with the retirement of Liberal MP Gary Blackwood.
“I’ve never been in local government so campaigning is new to me but part of it is really getting to learn about your community and how many fantastic people are in our communities that are taken for granted – there’s all these people that sacrifice so much for something they’re passionate about and I want to be able to help them,” Mr Farnham said.
The Liberal party has recommitted to delivering the West Gippsland Hospital, which will be Mr Farnham’s biggest priority throughout his campaign.
He said he would like to see Labor back the project to ensure the hospital would be completed.
“It’s one of the fastest growing areas and it has had the least amount of funding – everyone deserves quality healthcare on their front door and this is the single biggest investment in the area in a long time,” Mr Farnham said.
On top of better healthcare, Mr Farnham said he would push for improved drainage and upgraded sporting facilities for Bunyip and Nar Nar Goon, as well as Longwarry, Drouin and Warragul.
“We want our sporting facilities to be improved throughout every town and that’s why one of our strongest policies is the 25 per cent Regional Infrastructure Guarantee because, basically, 25 per cent of people live in regional Victoria, so we will give them the same amount that people living in the city receive,” Mr Farnham said.
Mr Farnham will be running against Nationals candidate Shaun Gillis and Independent Ben Lucas, however, Labor has yet to announce its candidate for Narracan.
“I’m not taking anything for granted,” Mr Farnham said.
“The community has to know that I’m working hard for them and if they’re aware of that, then they’ll vote for me.
“If people really want change and are sick our health crisis and sick of regional Victoria being ignored, then we have to change the government and I feel if Labor is in power for another four years,we will be in a lot of trouble.”
