By CASEY NEILL
GABRIELLE Williams not only kept Dandenong in Labor hands at last year’s State Election – she kept it in Collingwood’s grasp, too.
The 32-year-old followed fellow Pies fan John Pandazopoulos into the seat with almost 53 per cent of first preference votes.
“It’s been a safe Labor seat for some time now but I’ve never taken that for granted,” she said.
“I’ve always known that I wanted to fight for this seat despite the margin and I think it’s one that takes a lot of work.”
Doveton-born Mr Pandazopoulos represented the electorate for 22 years before retiring at the 27 November poll.
“It is hugely daunting. John’s part of the furniture,” Ms Williams said.
“He was quite lovely about letting me find my own feet and I think that’s been really great.
“But he’s been available to provide advice if I need it.”
Ms Williams, who has already been appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Carers and Volunteers, calls Dandenong North home.
“People are going to have to get used to seeing me in my baggy jeans and my T-shirt, looking tired on a Sunday morning when I go to do my shopping,” she said.
Her parents started their married life in Noble Park and she grew up in Wantirna.
“A lot of my fondest memories of childhood are in Dandenong,” she said.
“We did annual trips to the Dandenong Christmas tree farm.
“As soon as we passed Lyndale secondary mum would say ‘that’s where John Farnham went to school’.
“By the time we were all older, we’d see Lyndale on the horizon and we’d all say ‘did you know that’s where John Farnham went to school?’.
“It became the running joke.
“She loved the fact that one of the first things I managed to lobby for and get a commitment on was the rebuild of Lyndale Secondary College.”
Ms Williams has been actively involved in the Labor Party and politics for about 10 years, but only recently considered herself a parliamentary candidate.
“It’s been a really organic journey. It wasn’t like from the age of 15 I wanted to become a politician,” she said.
Working with Bruce MP Alan Griffin exposed her to how much she could do and how much needed to be done. When Dandenong became vacant, she thought ‘why not?’.
“We should have people in these positions that are passionate about what they’re doing and that have a vision and that want to see the best for people,” she said.
“I do care about this place and I do care about the values of the Labor Party and genuinely believe that they create a more equitable, fairer society.”
She grew up in a family where politics and current affairs were always talking points, and her mum’s relatives in particular were politically active.
Ms Williams’ great uncle Ted McCormick was the Waterside Workers Federation president.
“And mum’s father was a wharfie, my uncle was a wharfie, my dad worked on the waterfront for a time,” she said.
“That’s quite a politically-charged environment, particularly in those days.”
Tragedy in her mum’s family also shaped her views. Ms Williams’ Aunty Kate suffered encephalitis (brain inflammation) at age five.
“She was in a prolonged coma over many, many months and when she did wake up she had severe disabilities as a result,” she said.
“That environment gave me a very clear idea of the role I felt that government should play in people’s lives in terms of being a support and creating a fair society.”
Ms Williams studied law with this philosophy in mind and worked with Baker and McKenzie.
“They had a really sizeable pro-bono program which they really encouraged us to be part of,” she said.
“It was often as simple as helping homeless people negotiate reduced penalties for different infringements.
“What it showed to me was that we had people who were already struggling, but would get into a cycle where things were made more and more difficult.
“It was such a small thing to do but you could see that it took some of the weight off them.”
Ms Williams hopes to do similar things for residents of her electorate, which includes Dandenong, Doveton and Eumemmerring, many of whom are immigrants.
“They’ve come from places where government is something to be feared and you avoid it as best you can,” she said.
“That’s something that I want to break down as best as I can.
“I want this office to be a true community resource.”
Her office is in Halpin Way, Dandenong.
