Jeanette Powell's son Corey, Governor of Victoria Linda Dessau, Jeanette, husband Ian, and son Nathan when Ms Powell was awarded her AM.
G’day everyone. I’ve been avoiding thinking about politics, let alone writing about it.
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I’m disheartened that the country’s debt just keeps on rising. Our state alone is paying $10 million per day in interest — on a debt that is well over $100 billion.
However, sandwiches and coffee, with Jeanette Powell, soon overcame my listless interest.
Our ‘first lady’
Jeanette was the first female politician to represent the National Party — in both houses of the Victorian parliament.
We had met, only briefly, when Jeanette appeared in two of Shepparton Theatre Arts Group’s theatre restaurants, but that was around 35 years ago. There was a fair amount of catching up to do and we spent at least an hour getting to know one another again.
While she was preparing lunch, I browsed through a list of her life experiences, and her current activities for the community — and when she returned, I asked my first real question: why?
What had caused her to put her hand up to become a councillor, then the shire president, then represent us in state parliament for just under 19 years?
She told me that, when the suggestion to stand for council came up, she said ‘not me’ initially and then thought about her father.
He had brought his wife and two daughters to Australia, from Liverpool. They were ‘Ten Pound Poms’.
He had seen television advertising promoting this country as the ‘land of opportunity’ and realised that was what he wanted for his daughters: opportunity. It was 1958.
Jeanette had married Ian Powell in 1970 and shortly after her wedding, her dad passed away, aged 50.
Just a few months after his death, her younger sister, Frances, was sadly killed in a car accident. But here Jeanette was being presented with the opportunity to make a difference — to learn, to grow, to contribute — and she couldn’t say ‘no’.
Harlem Departure
Centre stage: Sisters Fran and Jeanette entertaining as Harlem Departure.
By now, Jeanette and I were feeling comfortable with one another; we shared a couple of stories that were definitely not for publication and then, turned back the clock, to her youth.
The Cushion sisters, Jeanette and Frances, joined a local band strangely titled Harlem Departure. It was here she met Ian Powell, who was the bass player. They announced their engagement, in front of a substantial crowd at Nathalia, on New Year’s Eve 1969.
Ian says he wasn’t a particularly good bass player and was asked to leave. (My note: Whether you call it ‘fate’, the universe in action or God’s Will — Jeanette and Ian, who were to be lifelong partners, had met. Purpose achieved!)
Harlem Departure, however, went on to some success. They travelled around Victoria and were the support act for several big names, including Billy Thorpe, Russell Morris and Ross D. Wyllie. The girls made their own matching outfits.
“We got paid on Thursdays, went to Fairleys on Fridays for a pattern and some fabric and had new costumes for Saturday night’s performance,” Jeanette said.
Frances left the band, to join another group, and was killed in a car accident — near Mooroopna — in June 1971. She was returning home from a gig in Kyabram. Fran was 21 years old.
Eventually, it was a perforated eardrum, requiring major surgery, that brought Jeanette’s singing career to an end. (But, not quite — she still uses that beautiful voice to entertain on various community occasions.)
Jeanette managed the family business — Ian Powell Auto Electrics — for around 18 years, while raising two sons, Corey and Nathan.
Why we elected Jeanette
By this time, in our long discussion, I fully understand why we elected her — so many times. The first election was for the Legislative Council, then after Don Kilgour retired, we decided she could handle the Legislative Assembly and then again, and again, until she retired in 2014.
Under Conservative governments, she was appointed the Minister for Local Government and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs; and is still informed and passionate about these matters.
However, she is also so much more. She is warm, empathic and genuinely caring. She spoke about issues that were small, in the scheme of things — but very important to the individuals involved.
I’m remembering an instance that involved a young mother with two small children. She lived in government housing and her front fence had been damaged.
There were savage dogs next door and, for four weeks, she was unable to let the children outside, even to hang the washing out.
Perhaps only another mother would realise how difficult this situation was; perhaps only a woman would pick up the phone and have this situation attended to — immediately.
For Jeanette, it wasn’t just the big, headline-making issues that mattered; it was also the smaller problems that affected lives and lifestyles. She was an accessible, approachable politician who saw her job as wide-ranging — with the potential to make a difference.
A wonderful country
Cuppa and a chat: Former state Member for Shepparton Jeanette Powell enjoying sitting in her peaceful backyard.
She told me about a particular moment in her life. She had just taken on her ministerial roles and was climbing the steps of parliament, to go to her new office. She was wearing her ‘no nonsense’ suit and carrying her briefcase.
She paused, suddenly remembering her past. She was a ‘Ten Pound Pom’ from Liverpool. She left school at 16. And yet, here she was, trusted by her constituents to represent them — in the land of opportunity. Here father had been right, she thought: this is truly a wonderful country.
Her current contributions
I don’t like boring people with lists — but take a quick look at how Jeanette contributes to our community today.
She is president of both GV Hospice Care and Shepparton Villages. And associated with the Rotary Club of Shepparton, Parliamentary Former Members Association, Greater Victorian Commonwealth Games Taskforce, Soroptimist International of Shepparton, Shepparton Men’s Shed, and Australian Local Government Women’s Association. And she still had time to spend more than three hours with me — in the beautiful garden that wraps serenely around their home.
The Rotary Club of Shepparton presented Jeanette with a Paul Harris Fellow award, and in June last year, she was awarded an AM by the Governor of Victoria. The citation reads ‘For significant service to the people and Parliament of Victoria and to the community’.
I reckon that’s an understatement and, on behalf of us all, I say ‘Thank you, Jeanette’.
Just a comment
Having spent that time with Jeanette and truly understanding how effective a real politician can be, I have a comment to make.
Our premier visited China to, he has said, get more Chinese students to Melbourne, and he is satisfied with the outcome. If he was there for that purpose, why would he not take a vice-chancellor — or two? Perhaps they would have a greater understanding of what education in Melbourne is currently offering.
And, if he has succeeded, where are these additional hundreds of young people going to live? Currently, there are around 600 applicants for each apartment on offer and, it is being said, people are giving up on our capital city — and our state.
However, I was not concerned about Mr Andrews going alone to China — just a little disappointed that he came home.
Okay Marnie! Enough is enough!
I hope you all had a pleasant Easter. Here in our peaceful valley we still have much to be grateful for, despite the weather.
18°C