We are asking for your support for two local Independent candidates for Litchfield Shire Council - Lynette Kenyon for Central Ward and Liza Tobin for South Ward.

They are both strong, community minded Territorians who support the Communities on Council platform: concerned locals working together to rebuild our communities and economy on foundations of care for people, our climate and the Country on which we live and rely.

Supporting Lynette and Liza will help them have a real chance of election, at a time when we need people like these two women to step up to support urgent action to secure our environment and build community connection and resilience for the future.

Lynette Kenyon is a Darwin born Territorian, her mother being Marrithiyel from Woodycupaldiya 100km S.W. of the Daly River and her father from Kaytetye Country (Barrow Creek). Her husband Graham Kenyon is a local Limilngan and Wulna descendent of this region. They raised their four girls on his traditional lands on the Adelaide River wetlands.

Lynette grew up in Kakadu National Park and has seen a lot of changes in the region's landscape, including community and business developments. She has worked across business, government , education and environmental protection including with:

• Parks and Wildlife Commission NT for over 14 years mentoring and supporting senior and junior staff, volunteers, and contractors in all areas from interpretation guiding on local content, land management, cultural engagement and sensitivity and stakeholder connection and involvement, as well as Work Health and Safety.
• Chairmen of the Middle Point Primary School Student Council in 2020, a school her family have been part of since it was built in early 1964 for the rice farm project.
• She and her husband's own cultural tourism business which they have run for over a decade as it was important for them to teach their children about caring for country and maintaining a sense of belonging, knowing and growing in a two toolbox world.
• Charles Darwin University (CDU) in partnership with native wild rice harvesting and propagation projects and as a lecturer in cultural tourism business education.

As a local, Lynette feels there is a real need for her to join council as she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. Her main area of interest is in caring for the future of our environment and to see a sustainable balance for the long-term, from things such as water usage, land clearance, the inclusion of cultural fire practices, dealing with introduced weeds/ferals and the need to care for our community for future generations.

Liza Tobin has lived in Bees Creek for 22 years, most of that as a land owner. She's and energetic and engaged community member and has worked and volunteered in a wide range of areas in the NT including:

• with Virginia-Bees Creek volunteer fire brigade as a firefighter as well as taking on leadership roles over 15 years
• as a founding member of Rider Awareness NT including spending 12 years as President - she is a keen motorcyclist and was a Motorcyclist Instructor for 16 years
• as an experienced music teacher and who has spent 18 years teaching woodwind and junior ensembles in schools
• over 20 years weed management and bush revegetation experience
• local theatre initiatives - in her 'spare' time!

Liza lives on 5 acres of (weed free!) bush in Bees Creek and would love the chance to extend the care she takes of her own patch to the wider community and environment.

As an elected member of Council, she hopes to be a voice for the community, and the environment. She feels a sense of urgency about protecting our environment from invasive plants, animals and destructive land use, and wants to advocate for better care of all our waterways and wetlands and promote wise water usage across the Municipality.

She sees the need for innovation and community consultation to help bring positive change for the future in a fiscally responsible way. She is committed to working collaboratively within Council and across the community.

Both Lynette Kenyon and Liza Tobin are signatories to the Community on Council pledge;

● Repower our regions with renewable energy

● Secure safe drinking water for all

● Cool our communities

● Protect our environment and heritage

● Create safe and welcoming towns

All funds raised will be shared by the two candidates for the purposes of promotion during the 2021 NT Local Government Elections for the Litchfield Council, for costs including letterboxing, advertising, printing, postage and sharing campaign messages.