With a background in finance, a strong connection to the horticulture industry and local agribusinesses and a desire to see Leeton grow, Councillor Morris says she is looking forward to helping Leeton become a more progressive, resilient and self sustainable community.

Running for her third term as a Leeton Shire Councillor, Councillor Morris said she was 'immeasurably proud' of all that the current council had achieved over the past five years.

"We've seen the CBD upgraded, the pool redeveloped, the acquisition of the museum and art gallery building from the state government, new sporting facilities, the restoration of buildings and perhaps our biggest project, the Roxy which I just can't wait to see finished," Councillor Morris said.

According to Councillor Morris, seeing the Roxy project through to the end was a big catalyst for her running for re election.

"The Roxy is a big wish list item for our community so it would be wonderful to finally bring what we have planned to fruition."

Councillor Morris told The Irrigator that her background in finance was a big asset to council operations, where she currently currently serves on all finance related committees.

"We need to continually upgrade our assets and renew them," Councillor Morris said.

"This means applying for grant funding, finance underpins a big part of what council does, if you don't have the funding and the resources it's difficult to do things for the community."

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Councillor Morris has also been heavily in 'Fit for the Future', even taking part in a pilot group study at the University of Sydney in her first term on council, where she studied an Advanced Certificate in Local Government to gain a deeper understanding of what 'fit for the future' truly meant.

Improving the accessibility to aged care facilities and nursing homes is also a key and rather personal issue for her.

"I am very much aware as someone who as elderly parents that we have a big gap in Leeton of appropriate facilities for our elderly community members," Councillor Morris said.

"I want to keep our eyes open going forward to see if there are any opportunities where can can assist in this space because our elderly community members are at the heart of our community and we don't want them to have to move away because they can't access the care they need at home in Leeton."

The decline in medical services at Leeton District Hospital is also a cause for concern says Councillor Morris.

"I remember when we had a great maternity wing at the hospital, I had my four boys there but now all the doctors we did have are now retired and younger doctors aren't staying in the community," Councillor Morris said.

"It's a real shame, we need to find ways to retain medical professionals."

This year, Councillor Morris also helped launched Leeton Park Run, a free, fun and friendly weekly five kilometre event that whilst launched to much excitement, is now on pause due to COVID-19 restrictions.

"We are very blessed in Leeton, it is a fabulous community to raise a family, we have excellent schooling, facilities and a range of community groups," Councillor Morris said.

"I am excited to see it grow".

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