Member for Wollondilly Judy Hannan wins a Women of Local Government award

The Minister for Local Local Government the Hon. Ron Hoenig MP, announced her as the Elected Representative winner from the metro area in the Women in Local Government Awards.

The representative award recognises a counillor that has improved the position of elected female representatives.

"Unlike other fields where you stand on each other's shoulders, in local government as women, we hold hands together," she said.

"My hope is to see more than half of the people elected, working and even at the top being women."

The award was handed out at Parliament House on October 4, and was independently assessed by a panel after she was nominated by her co-workers, which included former mayors, and past and present councillors.

Ms Hannan has been a councullor since 2004 and a two-time mayor for Wollondilly Shire Council, and has trained and mentored young women who have expressed interest in being candidates.

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When she was diagnosed with a cancer called adenocarcinoma in 2004, she was determined to make a treatment drug caled Hereceptin affordable and accessible for all women.

"Even though I felt extremely unwell, I worked hard to afford it-but how could I sit next to another woman who could not?" she said in her inaugural speech as a member for Wollondilly this year.

It has since been added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

The member has also been involved in the South West Academy of Sport, encouraged about 30 wome to run for council positions, championed the importance of gender diversity in council, and been a part of the Australian Local Government Women's Association NSW (ALGWA) as Deputy President for Country.

"It's the little things that I've been able to help people with that has made so much of a difference," she said.

"It's like the little girl in Oakdale who wrote to me and said she didn't think Santa would come, but after we ran a Christlmas lights competition, she knew Santa would find her home.

"Assisting with small things like business approvals or ensuring people can keep their animals has made such a personal difference."

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