Prepared to lead
by Katrina Kalleske
Working as Mayor of one of the most economically diverse regions in South Australia is a rewarding challenge for Mark Braes.
A 1980 graduate from UniSA’s Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Braes says a Mayoral role was never part of his career plan. But he’s been in the leadership role for the Wattle Range Council in the south east of South Australia since 2006 and he loves it.
He was first approached in 1999 to run for Council to fill a casual vacancy. Until then, Braes had been busy working as a solicitor in the South East town of Millicent, home to the Council’s headquarters.
"Before I was approached to run I’d never considered getting involved in Local Government," he says.
"But when I think about it now, growing up in Broken Hill gave me a deep interest in politics and organised unionism, and coupled with my traditional Roman Catholic faith, a strong sense of social justice and equity.
"My studies in Legal Practice provide a useful background because Local Government is a creature of the State pursuant to the Local Government Act and is required to meet a whole raft of legislative and regulatory demands."
The Wattle Range Council area is made up of three major towns – Millicent, Beachport and Penola – as well as a handful of smaller towns. It prides itself on being one of the most economically diverse regions in South Australia with industries including viticulture and wineries, horticultural production and processing, timber production and processing, pulp and paper manufacture, floriculture, fishing, aquaculture, livestock production, tourism, and cropping and seed production. It also boasts rugged coastlines, pristine beaches, dolomite and limestone caves, culturally cultivated farming landscapes and vineyards, as well as some unique wilderness.
Braes says this mix of landscape and resources is one of the most enjoyable aspects of living and working in regional South Australia.
"Living in a clean, green and fertile area of the State with an abundance of natural resources and a mixed economy, provides a real sense of confidence and hope for the future," he said.
"Maintaining and sustaining those resources in the long term is an exciting, worthy and ultimately rewarding challenge.
"As Mayor it is my job to provide leadership and support for our communities to grow and prosper in a sustainable fashion from an economic, social and environmental perspective.
"The most rewarding aspect of the job is contributing to a cohesive and assertive Local Government body that is ambitious for the development of its communities."
In his role as Mayor he also facilitates, encourages and manages vigorous debate in the Council Chamber and represents Council decisions to the community and other levels of government. With 20 years as a solicitor under his belt, Mayor Braes continues his legal career outside of Council, as a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner with Centacare.