Ben grew up in Drouin, went to school there and got his first job there as a paperboy at age 13. He’s a father, business owner, former football club president and twice-elected Baw Baw Shire Councillor. This is his home.

Post graduating high school Ben joined the Australian Army, serving for seven years across the Ordnance and Infantry Corps. He finished his service as a reconnaissance-qualified infantry soldier and 2IC of his section. Career highlights include RIMPAC 2012 and a nine-month deployment to East Timor in 2010 on TLBG-6. Wearing the Australian flag on his shoulder and serving our country was a privilege and some of the best years of his life.

Post Army Ben returned to Victoria and spent four years as a plumbing apprentice, working across Melbourne’s suburbs. Six weeks before qualifying, the opportunity came up to buy his hometown gym. He jumped at the chance, and 10 years later, he’s still there as a local small business owner in Drouin.

Ben ran for Council because he felt they had lost focus on the basic issues- roads, rates and rubbish. He went in focused on financial sustainability, common sense and economic development to create local jobs. Baw Baw had become a funding black hole; councils near by seemed to have money to blow while his was scraping the barrel to fund no-brainer projects.

His time on Council has given him a firsthand look at the shortcomings of the State Governments delivery. He’s seen how decisions made in Spring Street dictate what can and can’t get done locally, and how often Narracan misses out. Within council he has opposed the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, oversized public housing without adequate support services, and large scale battery projects being forced into farming areas- all issues arising from ridiculous state government policy.

If elected to represent Narracan, Ben will keep fighting for hard working people, bring honesty and integrity back to state politics, and get our region back on track.