In this episode, we talk to Mayor Bob Kirk from the Goulburn Mulwaree Council about engaging the Australian voters in the political discourse.

Topics covered include:

• The establishment of rail trails in country NSW
• The relationship between stated and local government
• Why we must take the water crisis seriously and how we can better plan for the next drought
• Lessons learnt from experience in private enterprise
• How to create a thriving, vibrant country town in the age of urban sprawl
• What Australians want in country living
• The benefits and drawbacks of community consultation
• Communication between local government and its citizens
• Ways to engage young people in local government
• The difficulty in dealing with red tape in government
• How social media can cause distorted views of politics
• The importance of being accessible to people as a politician
• Remunerating local politicians fairly for the work that they do

About Mayor Kirk:

Councillor Bob Kirk was born and raised in Goulburn. First elected in 2008, he has served eight years as Deputy Mayor. He was re-elected in 2016 and was elected Mayor by his colleagues.

He joined the Commonwealth Bank in 1966 and served in nine other country centres before returning to Goulburn in 1991 as Senior Branch Manager. Cr Kirk left the bank in 1998 in order to remain in Goulburn. He subsequently held several local management positions before retiring in 2011 as Secretary Manager of the Goulburn Golf Club.

Cr Kirk has been married to Christel since 1973. They have two married daughters and seven grandchildren.

Cr Kirk has completed the Executive Certificate for Elected Members Program, confected by the Centre for Local Government, University of Technology, Sydney. He is also a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Cr Kirk is involved in a number of community organisations - West Goulburn Bushland Reserve Group (President); Goulburn Country University Centre (Director) and the Goulburn-Crookwell Rail Trail (Chairman). He is a long-term Rugby League enthusiast and a Life Member of the Goulburn District Rugby League Football Club.