Make Kiama's election YOURS
I know, I know... I said I wasn't into Facebook.
But for the next four weeks, Spark Shoalhaven is hosting a special Facebook Group: "Kiama Votes" and I hope you'll join in for the duration of Kiama's extremely important by-election campaign to find the region's next NSW Member of Parliament.
In the wake of Gareth Ward's guilty verdicts for sexual abuse, there's been a lot of tense and impassioned debate across Kiama and Shoalhaven (which overlaps significantly with the Kiama state electorate), as well as within our Spark community, about empowering communities to speak out and supporting people who speak up.
Spark Shoalhaven
Spark Shoalhaven
But now it's all about Kiama's future.
Instead of adding to the cacophony of mainstream news about Kiama's election, I have instead propped up a platform for you and the broader community to talk directly and openly to all candidates about their plans and promises.
Kiama Votes just went live tonight. Jump in and play a part in what I hope will prove a vibrant race between four compelling and community-minded women leaders.
A good start point is Lynne Strong's summary of the candidates in her Clover Hill Diaries blog.
View all posts by Lynne Strong
Thanks for sparking conversation and connecting with each other. - Cat
The experiment in tough questioning and democratic discourse begins!
Kiama votes for a new State MP on September 13.
Spark Shoalhaven is hosting this group for robust and open debate or discussion about the election candidates and their plans. After the election is complete, this group will close its doors and we can all raise our glasses to the ultimate winner which, hopefully, will be the Kiama community.
Kiama Votes 2025 aims to be a virtual town forum where all candidates can be found and where all political positions and questions can be explored.
Here members can delve into specifics on policy rather than just personality promotion. However, as Kiama's community knows only too well from years of horror headlines and vitriolic social media chatter, character does matter.
The content in the Kiama Votes group is in YOUR hands.
I have trust in most humans to be sensible and constructive. Spark will intervene as administrator only if extreme personal threats are presented. I will not post or comment throughout this project other than to start the ball rolling. Membership is open and posts are public. A lot of Shoalhaven territory is within the Kiama region. Anyone is welcome to join Kiama Votes to participate or be a spectator.
This is an important experiment to see whether we, as a diverse community, can use Facebook to express honestly, disagree respectfully and listen with curiosity.
A lot of freedom and opportunity is at stake if we cannot commit to seeing the world from a variety of perspectives and finding common ground on a bedrock of truth.
Problems never have a single cause, and solutions always come from collaboration.
Let's Go Kiama.
