Gareth Ward: Difference between revisions
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'''Gareth James Ward''' (born c. 1981) was elected to the [[Shoalhaven|Shoalhaven City Council]] on [[March 27]], [[2004]] as an independent to represent the electorate of First Ward which takes in the northern parts of Shoalhaven City. [http://www.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/council/councillors/ward.htm] |
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==History with Shoalhaven City Council== |
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Cr Ward spent five years (2001-2006) serving on the Council of the Wollongong Undergraduate Students' Association (WUSA), the union for students at the [[University of Wollongong]]. He was elected in his first year of studies, as a virtual unknown, and has served as Honorary Secretary, Disabilities Representative and General Representative on the WUSA Council. Gareth was also the youngest president of the University of Wollongong Liberal Club, and involved with the [[Australian Liberal Students Federation]]. |
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Elected as an [[Independent]] at the age of 22, Gareth is the youngest member of [[Shoalhaven City Council]] by more than a decade. He ran for [[Mayor]] at the last election and placed 5th out of 19 candidates behind fellow Councillor Paul Green, former Community Action Councillor Pam Arnold, Brian Parry and the current Mayor Greg Watson. |
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==Council career== |
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Gareth is a member of numerous Council committees including: |
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Ward was elected as an Independent at the age of 22 despite being a member of the Liberal Party of Australia. (1). Since his election, Ward has raised concerns about having larger houses on smaller subdivisions. (2) He has also taken a stance against a NSW State Government tax on recreational divers (3) and lack of parking in the [[Nowra]] CBD. (4) He has tried to bring motions condemning the State (Labor) Government and has introduced as Council business, Liberal Party policy. |
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Policy and Planning Committee Development Committee The Shoalhaven Sports Board The Shoalhaven Traffic Committee The Public Transport Working Party The Festivals Working Party The Crown Reserves, Community and Commercial Operations Committee The Shoalhaven Water Strategic Review Committee The Youth Advisory Committee The Aboriginal Advisory Committee The Industrial Development and Employment Committee The Diary Industry Sub-Committee The Multi-Purpose Cultural Convention Centre Sub Committee |
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==Dispute with fellow Councillor== |
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Gareth is also a delegate to the NSW Local Government Association and the Australian Local Government Association. |
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He is best known for having a bowl of [[tomato sauce]] thrown over him in a meeting in the Mayor's chambers by Councillor [[John Wilmott]]. The two councillors had previously exchanged e-mails over new proposed building height codes in [[Ulladulla]]. [http://abc.net.au/news/items/200604/1614794.htm?illawarra] with Willmott calling Ward a "little twerp". Ward responded by criticising Wilmott's spelling at the meeting. This exchange ended with Wilmott throwing a bowl of sauce over Ward. (5) Mayor Greg Watson, the Deputy Mayor, four other councillors were present at the meeting as well as the General Manager but no-one would ever admit to seeing the incident. (6) Ward was cleaned up by Council staff. However, he later appeared for media photographs with tomato sauce smeared on him. Either he smeared himself with sauce, or the press did, or the sauce came back by itself. The press deny it. Ward subsequently called for Wilmott to resign or undertake anger management courses. Willmott did neither, laughing off the suggestion. The matter was reported to the Council Conduct Committee which recommended no action against Willmott. |
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Gareth is a member of the NSW Local Government Association Social Issues Working Party and Library and Infomation Services Reference Group. |
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Ward achieved more passing fame when he demanded the removal of lifeguards at Milton sea pool. Milton is a few miles inland and has no sea pool. His reference to it is as unexplained as his appearance in the photograph with tomato sauce on him after he had been cleaned. He is taken seriously by the local radio station who promote him heavily. |
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[http://abc.net.au/news/items/200604/1614794.htm?illawarra] Both Ward and Willmott are members of the Liberal Party. (7) |
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==References== |
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(1) ''Sydney Morning Herald'', "Mystery of the up-ended bowl" [[18 April]] [[2006]] page 18 |
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Gareth Ward is seen as the most likely opponent of sitting Mayor Clr Greg Watson who has been on Council since the 21st of September 1974. Clr Watson has been Mayor for 15 years on inconsistent occasions since his election in 1974. |
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Gareth Ward would accurately be described as pro-development but has lead the campaign to reform Development Control Plan 100 in order to expand the minimum road width and floor space ratio to prevent over-development in the Shoalhaven. |
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Gareth has been responsible for a number of Council projects including: |
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• $23.5 Multi Purpose, Cultural Convention Centre |
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• Shoalhaven City Council’s Water Tank Subsidy |
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• Extension of public pool opening hours |
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• Opening of Burrill Lake |
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• Pioneered the Ulladulla Harbour Working Party |
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• Foreshore upgrades in Shoalhaven Heads worth over $150,000 |
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• Fought to exempt Boy Scouts and Girl Guides from paying rates on property owned by their organisations |
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• Battled the State Government over cuts to Public Transport and South Coast Rail |
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• Fought against local ‘Green Groups’ on the North Nowra Link Road |
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• Moved in Council to restrict commercial fishing zones on the Shoalhaven River in order to support local commercial fishers and recreational fishers. |
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==Community Activity== |
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Involved in many community activities, Gareth is a supporter of the Bomaderry Swamp Rats football club, his local Bushcare Group and is the Membership Officer and Public Speaking Coordinator for Berry Apex Club. |
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An [[Anglican]], Gareth attends St. Stephen's Church in Bomaderry. |
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==Employment in politics== |
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Gareth has worked for a number of politicians including NSW Senator John Winston Tierney (Political Advisor), [[Shelley Hancock]] MP (Electorate Officer) and the Hon. Don Harwin MLC (Electoral Assistant). He also spent a short time working for the Liberal Party’s fundraising arm – the Millennium Forum Project. |
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==An Independent Councillor but Member of the NSW Liberals== |
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Gareth is a Member of the [[Liberal Party of Australia]] and has served in many positions within the Party. Currently he is President of Shoalhaven Young Liberals, Secretary of the [[South Coast]] SEC and [[Gilmore]] FEC. Gareth is a member of the Party’s State Executive and is a delegate to State Council which is the governing body of the NSW Division. Gareth is also a delegate to Young Liberal Council which is the governing body of the Young Liberal Movement in NSW. |
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Gareth is a former member of the NSW Young Liberal State Executive where he held the positions of Rural and Regional Development Officer, Membership Officer and Political Officer. |
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(2) ABC Regional News, "Councillor calls for community input into housing" [[January 4]], [[2006]] |
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Gareth was the President of the University of Wollongong Liberal Club from 2000-2003. During that time Gareth was a delegate to the [[Australian Liberal Students Federation]] in Sydney in 2001, Brisbane in 2002, [[Canberra]] in 2003, [[Melbourne]] in 2004 and Adelaide in 2005. Gareth was also President of the Debating Society, Economics Society and Industrial Relations Society whilst at University. He was Vice President of the Australian Union of Jewish Students and a member of the United Nations Society, the Wine Society, the Evangelical Christian Union and the Musical Society. |
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(3) ABC Regional News "Council to let Govt know of dive tax concerns" [[1 December]] [[2005]] |
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Whilst on campus Gareth held many key positions including Director of the Wollongong UniCentre (Student Union) from 2002-04, Member of the Commerce Students Representative Board from 2000-2003, Commerce Faculty Board from 2000-2003, Representative on the Commerce Faculty Education Committee in 2001, Member of the Student Association (2000-2005) in many positions including General Secretary (2002), Executive Committee (2002), Constitutional Reform Committee (2002), Delegate to the [[National Union of Students]] 2002, 2003, 2004. Member of the National Union of Students National Executive in 2002. |
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(4) ABC Regional News "Nowra looks to address CBD parking problem" [[27 October]] [[2005]] |
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In 2003 Gareth was the Liberal convenor for Liberal delegates to the National Union of Students Conference and delivered the best result at the NUS AGM in Liberal student modern history with Liberals gaining election to ¼ of the seats on National Executive in addition to several Liberal Students gaining seats on the Welfare Committee and Education Committee. The Liberal Student delegation attending NUS in 2002 was the largest ever seen. |
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(5) ''Daily Telegraph'' "Shirt-squirting shame - Tomato sauce mars mayor's meeting" [[12 April]] [[2006]] page 24 |
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During his involvement through NUS, Gareth was a member of the NUS Business Committee in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 (as well as the pre-confernece business committee in 2005). He was the first Liberal to be elected to an Executive Sub-Committee which was the Constitutional Standing Committee of the National Union of Students. |
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(6) ''Daily Telegraph'' Op. Cit. |
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==Personal== |
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(7) ''Daily Telegraph'' Second edition "Tomato sauce outrage - Feuding councillors in party pie food fight" [[12 October]] [[2006]] |
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===Online References=== |
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Gareth attended Bomaderry High School, Bomaderry Primary School and Nowra East Public School. |
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* [http://www.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/council/councillors/ward.htm Shoalhaven City Council Gareth Ward page] |
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* [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/mystery-of-the-upended-bowl/2006/04/17/1145126055704.html |
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''Sydney Morning Herald'' "Mystery of the up-ended bowl" [[18 April]] [[2006]] accessed [[22 April]] [[2006]]] |
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* [http://abc.net.au/news/items/200604/1614794.htm?illawarra ABC Regional News "Councillor accused of saucy incident urged to quit" 12 April 2006 retrieved 22 April 2006] |
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[[Category:1981 births|Ward, Gareth]] |
[[Category:1981 births|Ward, Gareth]] |
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Revision as of 04:14, 6 April 2007
Gareth James Ward (born c. 1981) was elected to the Shoalhaven City Council on March 27, 2004 as an independent to represent the electorate of First Ward which takes in the northern parts of Shoalhaven City. [1]
Student Politics
Cr Ward spent five years (2001-2006) serving on the Council of the Wollongong Undergraduate Students' Association (WUSA), the union for students at the University of Wollongong. He was elected in his first year of studies, as a virtual unknown, and has served as Honorary Secretary, Disabilities Representative and General Representative on the WUSA Council. Gareth was also the youngest president of the University of Wollongong Liberal Club, and involved with the Australian Liberal Students Federation.
Council career
Ward was elected as an Independent at the age of 22 despite being a member of the Liberal Party of Australia. (1). Since his election, Ward has raised concerns about having larger houses on smaller subdivisions. (2) He has also taken a stance against a NSW State Government tax on recreational divers (3) and lack of parking in the Nowra CBD. (4) He has tried to bring motions condemning the State (Labor) Government and has introduced as Council business, Liberal Party policy.
Dispute with fellow Councillor
He is best known for having a bowl of tomato sauce thrown over him in a meeting in the Mayor's chambers by Councillor John Wilmott. The two councillors had previously exchanged e-mails over new proposed building height codes in Ulladulla. [2] with Willmott calling Ward a "little twerp". Ward responded by criticising Wilmott's spelling at the meeting. This exchange ended with Wilmott throwing a bowl of sauce over Ward. (5) Mayor Greg Watson, the Deputy Mayor, four other councillors were present at the meeting as well as the General Manager but no-one would ever admit to seeing the incident. (6) Ward was cleaned up by Council staff. However, he later appeared for media photographs with tomato sauce smeared on him. Either he smeared himself with sauce, or the press did, or the sauce came back by itself. The press deny it. Ward subsequently called for Wilmott to resign or undertake anger management courses. Willmott did neither, laughing off the suggestion. The matter was reported to the Council Conduct Committee which recommended no action against Willmott. Ward achieved more passing fame when he demanded the removal of lifeguards at Milton sea pool. Milton is a few miles inland and has no sea pool. His reference to it is as unexplained as his appearance in the photograph with tomato sauce on him after he had been cleaned. He is taken seriously by the local radio station who promote him heavily. [3] Both Ward and Willmott are members of the Liberal Party. (7)
References
(1) Sydney Morning Herald, "Mystery of the up-ended bowl" 18 April 2006 page 18
(2) ABC Regional News, "Councillor calls for community input into housing" January 4, 2006
(3) ABC Regional News "Council to let Govt know of dive tax concerns" 1 December 2005
(4) ABC Regional News "Nowra looks to address CBD parking problem" 27 October 2005
(5) Daily Telegraph "Shirt-squirting shame - Tomato sauce mars mayor's meeting" 12 April 2006 page 24
(6) Daily Telegraph Op. Cit.
(7) Daily Telegraph Second edition "Tomato sauce outrage - Feuding councillors in party pie food fight" 12 October 2006
Online References
Sydney Morning Herald "Mystery of the up-ended bowl" 18 April 2006 accessed 22 April 2006]