By Shelby Brooks
Two weeks out from the state election and Labor has finally named Nar Nar Goon Fire Brigade captain Justin Seddon as its candidate for Narracan.
Mr Seddon said he had never seriously considered a political career until a conversation with Federal MP Harriet Shing about a month ago.
“I never thought about it. This is all new to me,” he said.
“It was almost like a throw away line, ‘how does one get involved?’
“From that conversation it snowballed real quick to where I am.”
Justin Seddon has a long history of service to the community, as the current captain of the Nar Nar Goon CFA, president of the Nar Nar Goon Primary School council and vice-president of the Kooweerup Secondary College council.
The medical sales rep admitted he had been critical of the government in the past.
“I have been one of those people who have sat in the background and criticised every decision that every decision maker has made,” he said.
“When I think about it, it’s easy enough to sit back and criticise and complain but the only way you can get change is to put your hand up and try to be one of those people who can influence change.
“The only way you can ever change anything is to put your hand up and have a go.”
Despite not having any past connection to the Labor Party, Mr Seddon said a lot of the projects the party had in place, like the Melbourne Metro Tunnel and skyrail, he had experienced as a third party through work.
“Those sort of projects I really like and am keen to see those flow through,” he said.
As CFA captain, last month Mr Seddon was present for a Liberal Party promise to fund a new Nar Nar Goon Fire Station.
He said at the time it should have been done years ago.
“I’m pushing the Labor Party to step up,” he told the Gazette on Monday 7 November.
“But the priority for the area is the West Gippsland Hospital.
“To get that hospital fixed up, that’s the priority.”
Mr Seddon said he was looking forward to the challenge the next two weeks would present.
“I’m excited to have people from the community come up and say I’ve got this issue, how can you help us?
“As opposed to, with my fire brigade hat on, turning up when people are in need. I’m getting to people before it turns into a disaster.
“Let’s try and help things before we get desperate,” he said.
