I am excited to be representing you. Having a property near Yass since the 90s I appreciate the beauty and importance of the region and know how wonderful its communities are. I also understand the challenges your area faces. I have begun door knocking in the area so I can meet you and hear your views. If you see me while I am out and about please feel free to come and say hello!

As you might be aware, I make regular weekend visits to surrounding towns and villages to meet with people who can’t make it to my office during the week. There is no need to make an appointment, just drop in to see me to say hi or to discuss your state issues. We have quite a few scheduled before Christmas including Yass and surrounds, so keep an eye out for letters or community notices detailing my schedule. I look forward to seeing you at my Yass visit on Saturday morning at Kaffeine from 9:30 – 11am.

I recently attended a sustainability forum where Nat Isaacs from 1Million Women gave an inspiring talk on how to shop in our own fridges and cupboards instead of throwing waste food out. She used the word "frugal" which went out of fashion when it became associated with meanness but now means sensible housekeeping. It was a good conscience-prick for all of us who keep meaning to use the special left over something we have wrapped in glad wrap and lost at the back of the fridge because it was easier to duck into the supermarket for something else. I am sure I am not the only one who has family members who complain there is nothing to eat when there is a fridge full of mystery containers!

With March 28, 2015 coming up very fast, I am lobbying hard for two big projects for the Goulburn Electorate; a new hospital (around $100 million) and improved train rolling stock (which starts at $200million a train, yes, a single train!). The bad old days (some would say the good old days) when promises were not costed are over; so making an election commitment is serious business. Promises about front line staffing, wage increases, additional train services, reforms to domestic violence programmes or educational programmes, let alone building new hospitals and railways are now carefully costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office and added to each party's tally. How the party would find the money to pay for it is closely scrutinised by opponents. It’s fair-all candidates and all parties have to do the same. So I won't be able to make any promises, no matter how minor, until they've been thoroughly looked at by the independent arbiter. Just as well I got my bids in early but in the meantime, keep the pressure on by signing those petitions. You can find them in my office or online via links on my website. www.prugoward.com.au

Pru Goward, State Member for Goulburn.