Angela Holl: Caring for our community
Angela Holl has been a proud resident of Springvale North for over 15 years. She is admitted as an Australian lawyer and currently spends her days working in a Finance Analyst role. Angela views both these skill sets key to her being an effective future councillor for the City of Greater Dandenong.
Outside of work Angela contributes to her local community through volunteer work and actively participating in local organisations. Her passion for supporting young people is the motivating factor behind her having tutored students from migrant and refugee backgrounds through the Southern Ethnic Advisory and Advocacy Council as well as attending local school events as a Guest Speaker and Panelist to help offer advice and guidance to students. Most recently, Angela’s contributions were highlighted via an interview with the Cambodian Association of Victoria.
Combined, Angela’s experiences underpin her platform which aims to “bring a compassionate and caring voice to council, and to dedicate my time to supporting our local residents and businesses”.
What inspired you to run in The Greater Dandenong Council?
I’m inspired to run because, as a young person, I feel our views are underrepresented on Council and I want to change that!
Council decisions can affect our younger generations significantly, as we have to live with the outcomes and consequences the longest. I think it’s important to have diverse representation on Council, which includes the voices and perspectives of young people like us.
“I’m also inspired to run because we need more female representation. ”
I’m also inspired to run because we need more female representation. In my current Council Ward, we haven’t had a female Councillor for 8 years (2 terms). In the whole of the City of Greater Dandenong, only 3 out of 11 current Councillors are female (that’s 27%). It’s time for equal and diverse representation, and I’m ready to contribute to that! #ItsOurTime
What are the key causes and impact areas you are championing?
Caring for our community
The mantra for my campaign is “caring for our community” because I want to shift the election focus back to our community. Over the years I’ve volunteered with local groups and schools. Through this experience, I’ve met so many wonderful people and I’ve learned the importance of being inclusive and interconnected. Our people are truly the heart and soul of the City of Greater Dandenong and we need to make sure our community feels cared for, listened to and engaged.
Supporting residents and businesses through COVID-19
I’ve spoken with local residents and businesses, who are all really struggling during this COVID-19 pandemic. We need strong and compassionate leaders, to help support our community’s recovery through this challenging time. I will be advocating for more financial assistance and grants for our community, to keep our council rates low (and especially for those struggling financially), and for more mental health services to be available.
Improving parks and community spaces
I believe we need to improve our existing parks and community spaces. This COVID-19 lockdown has emphasised how much our residents and their families value our parks and playgrounds, and we are in need of an upgrade. I will also advocate for us to create new open spaces too for the benefit of our residents and the environment.
What is your message to other young people who might be thinking about running too?
If you are thinking about running, it shows that you care about your community, and that’s what we need - more young people engaged and interested in local council.
Don’t let anyone (including yourself) persuade you into believing that you’re too young, or that you don’t have a valuable contribution to make. The decisions that councils make affect us young people too, and we deserve a seat at the table just as much as anyone else.
Be brave, have a go, and I wish you good luck!
