I was born and raised in the Leitchville/Cohuna area to a dairy farming family.
I have an honours degree in economics from Melbourne University, including accounting and business law.
My first professional job was to write a complete policy platform for the National Party in the mid-1990s.
As far as I'm aware, I am the last person to do so.
From there, I became a ministerial adviser to the Nationals' Roads and Ports minister, Bill Baxter.
It was an exciting time, working at VicRoads head office in Kew, Parliament House and getting driven around in chauffeur drive limousines. After a cabinet reshuffle, I faced a choice on where I wanted my life to go.
I decided to leave Melbourne and return home, to avoid getting lost in a fantasy lifestyle and work in the real world.
I changed direction by owning a rural merchandise business in Cohuna, Gunbower and Leitchville, married Julie and we raised two children, Abby and Trey.
Abby is taking charge of the shops in my absence.
During this time, I was president of the Young Nationals for two years and Nationals junior vice-president.
I have irrigated beef farms at Cohuna and Kow Swamp, and Julie and I also operate the post office in Gunbower, which we recently redeveloped.
I got elected to Gannawarra Shire council in 2020 and have been mayor for the past two years. I have also been a member of the VFF water council for the past few years.
I have played cricket across Murray Plains, still play for Cohuna B-grade in Goulburn-Murray cricket and am playing footy with the Echuca masters EMUs.
My primary principles as a councillor and mayor have been transparency, accountability and community first.
An approach that met with surprising resistance.
My economic, accounting and legal training has kept me confident at council and it will be no different at the state level.
I am determined to restore safety, prosperity and trust to Murray Plains and Victoria.
Never before has Murray Plains and Victoria faced such challenges from a disconnected state government and politicians who have stood back and watched it unfold over 20 years.
Loss of irrigation water, roads, housing, cost-of-living.
We have been let down by both the government and opposition.
The books must be opened to reveal the financial mess this state is in.
Wasteful projects such as the suburban rail loop will be scrapped and investment directed into roads and infrastructure in regions like Murray Plains, which drive the Victorian economy.
We must reset ideas like net-zero, which have only hurt households and undermined business profitability and industry confidence.
This election gives Murray Plains a real choice.
An alternative between 100 years of Liberal/National Party representation, or a fresh approach.
I will bring the same strength and determination I brought to Gannawarra.
The Nationals have given us the Paris agreement and net-zero.
They created the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, signed Victoria up to it and changed water management. That undermined irrigated farming and jeopardised our local industries.
The Nationals started VNI west and associated renewables, and now want to be the heroes for opposing it.
Thirty years ago, I wrote policies driven by National Party members and focused on benefiting everyday people.
The Nationals left those policies behind, policies reflected by One Nation today. The Nationals could have been the alternative to the current political class, which One Nation currently is.
I realise I haven't changed; the Nationals have.
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