Firstly, you can call me Thomas, Tom, Prince…any variation you’d like. Just don’t call me Jono (my twin brothers name haha)

Family

My mother Jenny, (kindergarten teacher) and my father Philip (carpenter) are both retired and based in Bendigo however my three siblings have all found themselves elsewhere in the country through career opportunities with their families. 

My childhood and youth were spent in a relatively stable upbringing and my parents built it upon a moral foundation that incorporated elements such as sports, music, faith and family. Value was placed in character development, reinforced through serving others and developing healthy relationships

My journey to this point

I pursued University straight out of school but decided that my passions didn’t align with tertiary education (at that point in time). With the birth of the local Gridiron club, I thought the timing was right to change my focus and help build a club from scratch while also giving back to the community.

From there, I spearheaded the Bendigo Dragons Gridiron Club’s school programs that have successfully run throughout Bendigo schools for the last 11 years and have proven to be the most effective program for the sport in the state. I also helped guide the different community work and partnerships the club engaged with. Through involvement in the Bendigo Easter Festival, work with the Bendigo Health Foundation and other groups, we tried to grow on a foundation of giving back to our community. Since its commencement in 2012, I have been on their committee for 10 years and held executive roles for most of those years.

In 2022 I returned to study at La Trobe University. In search of something that would complement my political aspirations but still provide me a career pathway outside of government, I enrolled in a Double degree of Psychological Science and Criminology. It’s my hope that the better I can understand people and their issues, the better I may be able to help them. And the same with our community. I’m currently in my third of four years (before possibly applying for honours).

At Uni, I’ve been Bendigo President of the La Trobe Student Association (LTSA) that are focused on making student lives better. We do this through events and advocacy. I am also the Chair of the LTSA board. In this role, I help guide all of La Trobe regional campus student committees and am involved in university-wide initiatives (Academic Board, Education Committee, Anti-Racism Taskforce, Sexual Harm Prevention Working Group to name a few). I never wanted to get into student politics however the LTSA operates more like a community group than a Student Union and working with them has given me the chance to connect with a younger generation that has been invaluable for growing my perspective.

Since my pursuit of local council, I have been committed to working part-time to allow myself the time to dedicate to other interests. It hasn’t been an easy commitment living on a low income however the sacrifice has put me in the position to always prioritise my values and spend my time reflecting on those values while considering the needs vs wants of life. 

Other involvements:

• I grew up playing soccer at Spring Gully United Soccer Club in my junior year, playing and coaching in my early 20’s and served a year as President. 
• I’m a volunteer with Seeing Eye Dogs Australia and have cared and trained a few puppies for them. This is something I’m not actively doing at the moment but would love to re-engage with at some point soon. 
• I have been involved with various fundraisers such as Let’s Chat’s Drag Shows. I’m not one to shy away from embarrassing myself for the sake of a good cause
• I’ve helped establish and run Flag Football Central Victoria. A social competition that looks at offering a social and inclusive outlet for university students and the Bendigo community
• When I was younger I involved with children and youth programs at Short Street Church of Christ and participated as apart of their worship team
• I’ve volunteered with Bendigo Health in a short term capacity (just before COVID hit) where I listened and provided some companionship to patients
• My best ‘other involvement’ is through the work that has opened up since first putting my hand up for council 10 years ago. Since then, I have received regular problems and concerns from residents and businesses that I have been able to work through with them and deliver results

Work

Since my pursuit of local council, I have been committed to working part-time to allow myself the time to dedicate to other interests. It hasn’t been an easy commitment living on a low income however the sacrifice has put me in the position to always prioritise my values and spend my time reflecting on those values while considering the needs vs wants of life. It also means I have lived experience of the difficulties that many of our community face living on a low-income

I spent 6 years at Bendigo Wholefoods where I grew a better understanding of health which has evolved into strong personal interest

I also had an amazing opportunity to co-manage Babylon Lounge and Garden Bar from its beginning and witness the roller coaster that is navigating the red tape of small business creation. 

I was lucky enough to deliver with UberEats throughout the pandemic. This gave me the opportunity to connect small business and help them navigate three different avenues of communication of restrictions. And for some customers, I was the only regular contact (at a distance) they received. A very timely and rewarding job change it turned out to be.

So why run for Council? 

I’m Bendigo born and bred. I believe I have a strong skill set that is based on community engagement and feel that I can deliver a stronger connection and sense of identity for our community to the council. I also believe I can help connect our community with the resources, support and information to achieve their own outcomes. Doing this can create a powerful experience but also sustainable results.

In 2014, I decided that it was time to take my passion for Bendigo and its people to the next level 🡪 Pursuing my council journey. After 2 years of connecting further with the community and understanding more about our Council, I ran in the 2016 elections. Although I didn’t get elected, I came 5th (out of 11) and was very happy with what my numbers told me. 

In 2020, I nominated again and came 4th (out of 13) against what I considered a stronger field. My numbers also significantly increased, telling me that my message was resonating with our community

Of the 70 or so candidates that have run across the two elections, I’m one of only 2 (who weren’t elected) that have stayed committed to serving the community through being elected. And I’m back for round 3. My commitment hasn’t waivered and my passion and knowledge are continuing to grow. Let’s just hope my opportunity grows one step further by becoming a Councillor in 2024!