Love Local.
\nMeet Darren Cheeseman, MP for South Barwon.
\nThis month as part of our LOVE LOCAL series, we took the opportunity to chat with Darren Cheeseman, State Member for South Barwon, about his path to becoming a politician, his work in and around the local electorate and what he and his family love most about Geelong and the Surf Coast.
\nTell us a little about yourself \u2013 background, family etc?\u00a0
\nI live in Torquay with my partner and my two kids Isaac and Noah, and a loveable greyhound known as Barry \u2018Barracuda\u2019. The Surf Coast is home to some of Australia\u2019s best beaches, so I enjoy spending as much time as I can with my family at the beach. I also like to keep fit by heading to the gym, although another favourite pastime is walking my greyhound along one of the many fantastic walking tracks in and around the Surf Coast and chatting to locals.
\nWhere do you live in the electorate and how long have you lived there?
\nI\u2019ve actually lived around the Surf Coast on and off now, for more than 10 years.
\nHow long have you been the local member for South Barwon?
\nWell, I was elected as the State member for South Barwon in November 2018. So I have been the local member for just over 3 years. But it\u2019s definitely not my first stint in politics as I previously served the community as the Federal Member for Corangamite from 2007 \u2013 2013.
\nWhat led you into politics and becoming an MP?
\nEasy. I really love Australia, and especially our own state of Victoria. One of the most important motivators underpinning my decision to enter politics, first at the federal level and then to re-enter the fray as a state member, has been a desire to make the community I represent the best possible place to live, work and raise a family. I\u2019ve always strived to ensure that I have provided a strong local voice that can deliver for my constituents on the issues that really matter to them.
\nWhat do you see as the biggest challenges and opportunities facing your electorate right now \u2013 apart from the pandemic!
\nSouth Barwon is a fast-growing electorate and it\u2019s important to keep up with the services that local families need and deserve. While the Andrews Labor Government has done a lot for our patch and the region more broadly since being elected in 2014 \u2013 there\u2019s still more to do and I\u2019m committed to getting on and delivering it.
\nRight now, as our economy starts to slowly recover from the pandemic, one of the biggest ongoing challenges will be to work out how we can continue to deliver quality infrastructure to our growing communities, whether it be in the form of roads, schools, hospitals or such other amenities necessary, to ensure that Geelong and the Surf Coast remain attractive places in which to live, work and raise a family.
\nWhat is the best\/worst thing about your job?
\nThe best thing about my job is hands down meeting the thousands of people and families living in the South Barwon Electorate, but especially the myriad opportunities to meet the many amazing, and inspirational community leaders and volunteers who put in so much time running our sports clubs and community organisations which are at the heart of every community.
\nThe worst thing is that there aren\u2019t enough hours in the day to get everything done that I\u2019d like to. Like many people, COVID has definitely made me stop and think about the importance of having a work life balance.
\nWhat is the funniest thing that has happened to you during your time in politics?
\nTo my family\u2019s great amusement, recently at the gym a fellow patron recognised my face. They tried, somewhat unsuccessfully, to guess where they knew me and asked if I was a former AFL football player for Geelong! I wish!
\nFavourite places to eat in and around Armstrong Creek, Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula?\u00a0
\nI have two \u2013 and there\u2019s a bit of a common theme! First up, is At The Heads (aka Diver Dan\u2019s) in Barwon Heads. Sitting on the deck and looking out at the mouth of the might Barwon River is the perfect place to while away a sunny afternoon. I\u2019m also a huge fan of Bomboras on the Esplanade overlooking the main beach at Torquay. It\u2019s always buzzing throughout the day \u2013 and the front deck is a great place to people-watch or tuck into brunch following an early morning swim.
\nFavourite things to do in and around Armstrong Creek, Geelong and the Surf Coast?\u00a0
\nAs you\u2019d expect, coming from the Surf Coast, I love spending time at our famous surf beaches \u2013 Bells Beach, Bancoora and Winkipop. Another favourite way to unwind is to walk Barry along the many great walking trails in and around Torquay, along the Geelong Waterfront and down by the Barwon River. When I have a little more time, my wife and I enjoy taking the whole family driving down the Great Ocean Road and exploring its many townships and beaches. If we\u2019re feeling especially energetic, the area around Lorne also boasts some magnificent hikes where you can walk to spectacular waterfalls.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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