Cheryl Hammer to make second tilt at state parliament

State Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed was re-elected with 55.3 per cent.

Ms Hammer is a small business owner and chief executive of the leading philanthropic organisation.

Small business recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, choice in education and better access to mental health services are her top priorities.

“I am so ready to get to work with, and for, the people of the Shepparton electorate,’’ she said.

“I am thrilled to be endorsed as the Liberal candidate for the November state election and will not be wasting any time in my start to engaging with residents, business owners, farmers and our youth to better understand how I can represent them.

“I am full of energy, excitement and am ready for the big job ahead.”

The 58-year-old who grew up in Shepparton and has spent 22 years in the tourism industry serves on community boards and committees that tackle food insecurity and homelessness.

As a mother of three young men, and a carer for her father, she is focussed on better services, meaningful work, affordable rental housing and removing the barriers to owning a home.

She said major infrastructure projects in need of funding, such as the Shepparton bypass, stage two of the Goulburn Valley Health redevelopment and the Shepparton Sports Centre project will be important state election platforms in 2022.

“I will listen to the community and work hard with them to deliver on what is most important to them,” she said.

“We are such a diverse community, this means there is a hugely diverse set of issues and priorities, from water security, to education, to better access to health services for non-English-speaking families who settle here.

“I am proud to be the Liberal candidate representing the region I call home, where I have invested both professionally and personally, and will continue to do so throughout this campaign”.

Ms Sheed has not indicated publicly whether she intends to seek another term.