Town Talk | 13 years on council: Fern Summer’s story

I had heard of Fern Summer; of course, I had.

In 2012, the people of Greater Shepparton voted a young nurse on to council and repeated that for the next three elections.

This is her 13th year as a councillor, and she is, rightfully, proud of that.

I walked up to the table in the coffee shop, and she stood up.

I thought she looked hesitant and ill at ease, so I gave her a hug.

One of my many reasons for doing what I do is to allow our readers to get to know people they may never meet, and — I believe — that strengthens our community.

I take every effort to ensure this column is honest but fair, and I wanted Fern to relax and be herself.

She did — eventually.

When first elected in 2012, Fern had three small children: Aiden, who was two years old, and twins Lincoln and Eliza, who were still babes.

I asked her what was the button that was pushed to turn a young mum into a councillor.

She said council was, in her opinion, out of balance.

There were not enough women and no younger representatives of the community.

She thought she just might be able to improve the balance with a different perspective and said, “I was interested in breaking some staunch moulds.”

Fern was deputy mayor for two years during her first term and remained the youngest member of council for about 10 years.

She told me that, in the early days, at every event she attended, someone would ask her who was looking after the children.

To her, it sounded like a criticism, as if she should be at home.

However, she came up with a cheeky response: “Oh! They are fine. They’re in the car, but I’ve left a window open.”

I laughed, and she told me most people got the message.

Early days

Fern was born in 1979 in Byron Bay to free-thinking parents.

Through her youth and childhood, her name was Fern Summer Meng but, as time went by, she decided that she was quite happy with just Fern Summer.

She eventually changed it officially and found the process simple and easy.

She was who she wanted to be.

Her mother moved to Tatong for some years, and Fern and her younger brother, Matthew, attended primary school there.

This was followed by Benalla Tech, and at this time, Fern’s education faltered.

She had been bullied for her entire school experience and said, “By Year 8, I couldn’t even write an essay.”

Education was important to her mother, so she enrolled both her children at Goulburn Valley Grammar.

And here, everything changed. Fern said, “School is very different when you have teachers who care.”

She did well in this environment, despite remaining insecure and a bit of a loner.

(Benalla Tech has since been merged with Benalla High School.)

Matthew became a prefect at GV Grammar and today is a professor of marketing at Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University.

Fern has her nursing degree plus a diploma in primary care nursing, which she took during the COVID years.

She also has two qualifications she has undertaken to assist with her work on council. It appears that their mother raised independent — and successful — children.

The councillor

I asked Fern about the Australia Day business.

She told me that the original decision to deny funding to any celebration on January 26 was reported as unanimous.

In fact, she had abstained. When the decision was reversed, she again abstained.

She wasn’t opposed to reversing the decision, but is convinced that now is not the right time to make changes — and she was opposed to council stepping ‘out of its lane’.

She is adamant that council should focus on its primary jobs — roads (which need a lot of work by VicRoads and council), rubbish (because she is not at all sure that the current arrangements are quite right and is in favour of a hard-rubbish collection) and rates.

She thinks the decision to put rates on hold for two years was the right thing to do; however, she is concerned about the next increase.

She has been watching other councils in other states and notes that one of them has increased rates by 40 per cent, which she finds shocking. (As do I!)

I have just checked my notes and re-read the last two paragraphs. I couldn’t agree more.

As far as Australia Day is concerned, I feel sure that sometime in the future, Australians will be ready to stand together on this matter — without local government assistance.

Today’s young people will make it happen. But not yet — with the majority opposed to change.

And a hard-rubbish collection is something a city of this size should be able to offer.

It would make life much easier for everyone, especially people like me.

Many years ago, I spent some time in Albury, and the place looked like a tip.

However, I didn’t see a household that hadn’t participated, and within a few days, it was all tidy again — the streets and, I imagine, many backyards.

I mentioned the plan to build apartments over car parks, which had come to nothing.

I’m in favour of anything that puts people into homes.

However, it is now possible that the housing minister will make a decision for us — and they haven’t anything to lose in this part of the state.

Our opinions on this matter may not be considered. (My comment — not Fern’s.)

When Fern and I met, she had just come from a meeting with our mayor.

Without prompting, she told me that Shane Sali is a decisive, persuasive and knowledgeable leader who takes people with him.

After sharing a coffee and chat with Shane last year, I remember writing that he is, in my opinion, the ‘real deal’, and I think that became even more apparent in his second term as leader.

Today

Fern is a strong woman and has every reason to face the future with confidence.

However, childhood bullying can have long-term effects — and I write from my own experience.

From time to time, that experience can bounce back into your life and briefly create insecurity and fear.

However, it can also strengthen compassion for others. I recognised both of these effects during my time with Fern.

In regard to the bullying, she said, “I’ll never understand what drives hate for the sake of hate.”

So today, we have a devoted mother and an experienced and compassionate councillor, who still works three days a week as a nurse.

We will see less and less of the insecurity as time goes by, and the people of Greater Shepparton can relax about their repeated decisions to elect Fern Summer.

I wish Fern all the very best and thank her for trusting me.

It wasn’t easy for her.

Okay, Roger!

This week, Roger pointed out to me that, after reading last week’s Town Talk, it was apparent that I bought a car in Melbourne (although I did know!).

It was May when I first asked our sons to find me a smaller car, easier to drive and park.

They searched locally — disagreeing over everything — until August, when I told them to get a wriggle on or I’d buy one myself.

A couple of weeks later, I was copied in on an email that said, “This is the one.”

It was at a Melbourne dealership, and I didn’t say no.

Forgive me, everyone. We certainly tried. I feel no guilt — and I do love my car.

However, my ‘shop locally’ campaign continues next week with the proprietor of a long-established and respected locally owned business.

The following week, I meet with some ladies who want to discuss Shepp’s history and their memories of our past.

I’m looking forward to both.

Take care, and may it be easy, my friends.

Marnie

Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au

Letter: Town Talk. The News. P.O. Box 204. Shepparton 3631.

Phone: Text or call 0409 317 187