Peter Bray is someone well recognised in the Queanbeyan community, and it’s for that exact reason he will be contesting the Queanbeyan-Palerang election on September 9.
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The former deputy-mayor of Queanbeyan City Council is again running on Tim Overall’s ticket.
Mr Bray said being involved in the community gave him a lot of enjoyment and sensing that people appreciated his work encouraged him to have another tilt at local politics.
“I think that because I’m so heavily embedded in the community and activities, it’s become my passion,” Mr Bray said.
“I’m not seeking to get onto council for where I want to go in my career.
“I’m not interested in ticking a box for a CV.
“It’s about what I can do for the community.”
The original motivation for running for council was a much more personal matter for Mr Bray. His daughter Geraldine was left severely disabled after a car accident at age 18 and has required constant care from Mr Bray and his wife Margaret.
“I got onto council in the first place to try and establish disability support services,” he said.
“I do all of this on Geraldine’s behalf because her career was cut short, so I do it all for her.”
Mr Bray was proud of what he has been able to achieve so far in disability services but said there was a lot more work to be done, with a particular focus on increasing disability access across the region.
He and Geraldine, who is wheelchair bound, have tested most of the paths around Queanbeyan themselves.
The former Vietnam veteran embodies the ideal that no one is left behind, that is evident in his work for the disabled and he now brings the same approach to navigating the council merger.
Mr Bray has committed to working for the entire local government area, which now includes Palerang. He cited his experience on Queanbeyan council where he would take an opposing view to the Jerrabomberra Residents Association, where he lives, if he felt it was in the best interests of the wider community.
“I’m here for the whole of the Queanbeyan-Palerang regional council and I’ll go anywhere to make sure that everyone gets a fair go,” Mr Bray said.
“I do not like individuals or small pressure groups who’ve got fixed agendas and only think very narrowly of their own little area.”