For 16 years Katrina Hodgkinson has been the woman charged with looking after Burrinjuck. But in 2015 when the electorate is abolished, she’ll no longer be our local member.
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In a candid interview with the Tribune, Ms Hodgkinson spoke about the sadness she felt while coming to grips with the fact that she’s leaving Yass, the town she grew up in.
She expects her office will move to Cootamundra within the coming months, where she hopes to run a successful campaign and win the electorate of the same name.
Yass will become part of the Goulburn electorate next year, a seat current MP Pru Goward is expected to re-claim.
Ms Hodgkinson said when she realised it was time to move on she was extremely upset.
“Yass has always been the centre point of the electorate for the last 16 years,” she said.
“Initially I was very distressed but look the new seat of Cootamundra is a beautiful electorate and I know that a lot of people have friends and relatives living in that seat that would agree… I am looking forward to representing it, should I be successful at the next state election.”
She said organising the transition has also been difficult.
“Boundary changes are always challenging, but they’re most challenging when your electorate office is actually bumped out of its seat,” she explained.
“Also to not represent the community I grew up in anymore is sad but I have to make the best of it, as do we all.”
Greens candidate for the 2015 state election Iain Fyfe, who also ran against Ms Hodgkinson in 2007 and 2011, said while she’s been a popular choice for locals, there are things she could have done better.
“There’s lots of good things you can say about her,” he said.
“But I think with things like the Barton Highway and the Murrumbateman school for example, I don’t know if she’s shown as much enthusiasm in those areas as she would have done in the more conservative areas.
“I’ve also said in the past that I think she’s toed the party line a bit too much and hasn’t been as outspoken about a number of things that affect people like farmers, things like CSG (Coal Seam Gas) for example. I think if she was really representing the electorate she would have said more about that.
“I also remember in 2007 when I was standing against her she was handing out flyers about climate change ... but since then they’ve changed their mind and are not as willing to talk about it and accept it.”
However, Ms Hodgkinson is satisfied with what she’s achieved in the last 16 years as Burrinjuck’s local member.
“I’m probably the most proud of those small achievements where I’ve actually had an influence on the outcome of somebody’s life through the relief of a particular burden that they’ve been carrying,” she said.
Ms Hodgkinson also implored locals to vote for Pru Goward next year.
“Pru is a terrific member of the cabinet, she’ll work very hard for the local constituency, and she’s my coalition colleague.”
Goulburn MP Pru Goward congratulated Ms Hodgkinson on her 16 years as Burrinjuck’s member.
“She’s been a much-loved member, a lovely member and I know that people will miss her … she’s been part of the community life of Yass for so long and of course she grew up on a farm near Yass as well,” Ms Goward said.
Ms Goward she knows she has “very big shoes to fill” but said she’s up for the challenge.
“I think we both strongly believe in being present and being part of the community … I do not take time off and just like her my weekends are full and I go to lots of local functions.
“I absolutely intend on being part of community life, I think that’s critical.”
Ms Hodgkinson will be officially farewelling the electorate at a function at the Yass Memorial Hall on December 11 at 10am.