A 35 years old IT professional from Melbourne will be the first Sikh woman to contest in the local government elections in Australia. Gurinder Kaur, born and raised in Amritsar, will be contesting as an independent candidate to represent the South-West ward in Whittlesea council in Victoria. “I have opinions on what I think our […]

A 35 years old IT professional from Melbourne will be the first Sikh woman to contest in the local government elections in Australia.

Gurinder Kaur, born and raised in Amritsar, will be contesting as an independent candidate to represent the South-West ward in Whittlesea council in Victoria.

“I have opinions on what I think our city could look like or should look like… I’m wanting to make sure I’m listening to the community as well so it’s not just me going in with what I think should happen,” she tells Asia Samachar in an email.

She is also an independent member of the Victorian Sikh Gurdwaras Council in Australia.
An IT professional, Gurinder said she moved to Australia in 2006 and has experience of working in private as well as public sector.

She added that she has been very active in community projects including mentoring refugees to setup small business, fund-raising for cancer hospitals, kids camps, crisis support for international students and other local projects.

John Arkan, a blueberry farmer from Woolgoolga, is the first Sikh councillor of Australia when he was elected as a council member of the Coffs Harbour City Council in 2008 and later as deputy mayor in 2012-2013.

In July, he ran as an independent candidate for a seat in the New South Wales (NSW) in the 2 July Federal elections. He came out in the sixth position on vote count.

In her email, Gurinder said she council matters were not just about pipes and drains and roads, but about the social things that need to go on in communities.

She said she would like to see a library around Wollert, greater safety for residents and small business owners, extension of O’herns Rd and a new secondary college in Epping North.

Voting is compulsory for voters on the State roll for this election and enrolled residents may be fined if they do not vote, according to information at the Victorian Electoral Commission website.