LOCAL PROFILE: LIBBY MEARS
Commitment, Passion & Community By Liz Clark
A deep love of nature and the Surf Coast inspired Libby Mears to move to Anglesea with her family in 1999. Her family has enjoyed a connection with Anglesea since her grandfather Gladstone Mears built the first house in Melba Parade – many years before she was born. She grew up in Essendon in a family of seven – mum and dad and five children – attending St Vincent de Paul primary school and St Columba’s College for her secondary education.
cemented her life into a warm and generous community and supported her as she moved into various local groups. After chairing an Annual General Meeting at the Anglesea kindergarten, she was approached by a visiting Shire councillor, Beth Davidson, and invited to give some thought to standing for Council at the coming elections.
Straight from school, she joined the Government School Dental Service, a position that meant she studied and learned on the job and was bonded to work for the service for three years.
Beth had the foresight to see Libby’s unique leadership qualities and noted her respectful and engaging approach to people.
This work took her to various country areas including Warrnambool, Portland and Ballarat, and gave her a deep appreciation for a life away from the hustle and bustle of the city. In 1999, looking for space and more community involvement, she moved to Anglesea with her husband and three small children. It took no time for her to become part of the kindergarten’s
Libby Mears
parent group where she found many new friends and a new passion for active involvement in community life. A subsequent move to Aireys Inlet
She was duly elected to Council and began to appreciate the importance of actually being at the table where decisions are made to support the growth and wellbeing of the community, provide services and a response to needs and concerns. She felt that being a councillor was all about relationships, and facilitating ways of making communities work together and sort out differences. Libby had two terms as Shire Mayor, and as well as helping make important changes for the region, she was involved in developing policies and future planning – all skills that she learned through her experience.
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In addition, she was instrumental in working with the Anglesea Community House to set up an occasional care service, assisting women to have broader choices in their lives. She volunteered at the kindergarten, encouraged longer hours there, took turns at canteen duty, and was instrumental in the formation of the Aireys Inlet Eels Football Club. She was supportive of the many and
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