Forty years at the coal face of the mental health system has given retired nurse Anna Wurth-Crawford a unique insight into local health services, so its no surprise that the Goulburn resident sees it as one of the main issues she wants to address if she is elected as a councillor on December 4.
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Mrs Wurth-Crawford is on the Labor ticket for the Goulburn Mulwaree Council election, headed up by Jason Shepherd and including Danielle Marsden-Ballard, Warren Murray and Nathan Smith.
"I'm obviously very interested in health, in mental health, and I have concerns about that," Mrs Wurth-Crawford told the Post.
"This is our community, and the council needs to get behind it where it can.
"Much of health is a State issue, but council can support it by backing opportunities for training and apprenticeships, TAFE, community activities and centres."
Mrs Wurth-Crawford was born and bred in Sydney and came to Goulburn 46 years ago to begin her training as a mental health nurse at Kenmore Hospital, where she met her husband Richard Crawford (with whom she has two sons) and dozens of friends she is still close to today.
She worked there 25 years, then spent 15 at the Chisholm Ross acute mental health facility before retiring about seven years ago.
Throughout that time she has been deeply involved in the Nurses and Midwives Association, for which she was president of the Mental Health branch for many years, taking on many campaigns aimed at improving mental health facilities and nurse to patient ratios.
She was also president of the Goulburn District Unions, through which she campaigned to stop the closure of Bourke Street Health Service ahead of the new hospital being built, as well as the privatisation of Goulburn Hospital.
She is still actively involved in both groups, and has also been a member of the Labor Party for some years.
"That's the reason why I decided to join a ticket for Labor, because their principles are high - they want equality, fairness and great services for our community," she said.
Mrs Wurth-Crawford also wanted to offer some gender balance to the council election.
"I saw there were many men putting their hand, and we really need a balance of women," she said.
"Plus, just because you're retired doesn't mean you lay back and do nothing."
Other concerns on her list are the preservation of Goulburn's heritage, sustainable jobs for young people and attracting business to the city.
"I'm also very concerned about the environment - I believe we're in a climate emergency and I don't believe everyone in the council can see seriousness of this," she said.
"There's a lot council can do to lower emissions, such as more green spaces, solar panels on all council buildings and recycling improvements."
As to her position on recent hot button issues: regarding Veolia's plans in Tagaro, she's "completely against it", but she is in "in principle agreement" with the Wakefield Park expansion, although she'd like to learn more about the fine points.
"I understand they want to expand, and that we need to take residents' concerns into consideration," she said.
"But it brings motzas into town which is really good, and maybe some compromises can be made regarding noise."
Finally, she plans to "do her darnedest" to see a second access road for Run-O-Waters, where she herself lives.
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