MUNDARING councillor Karen Beale wants to bring a focus on tourism, public education, and community outcomes to parliament as a hopeful representative of the Kalamunda electorate.

Ms Beale said a formal political education was not how she found herself engaged in government but rather it was a natural progression from engaging with community.

“I wasn’t a typical study politics kind of person and that’s not where I come from,” she said.

“If you would have said to me 10 years ago that I’d be running for parliament I would have laughed.”

Ms Beale said the experience of helping the community during times of need was what drove her to take part in government instead of her accountancy, which she had studied.

“Just the satisfaction you get from helping someone specially when they’re in a bad situation is really rewarding.

“In 2021, I ran for council because there was a decision made that I really didn’t like about the youth program.

“I thought, ‘Well, I can either complain about it or I can get back in and try and fix it,’ so that’s what I did.”

Ms Beale is the chair of the board for Swan View High School and said she saw the impact youth programs had.

“Swan View has a low socio-economic demographic, and a lot of kids with highly difficult circumstances at home,” she said.

“That youth program was helping a small amount of people but it made a big difference.

“I was really annoyed that it got cancelled, so one thing that I’ve been wanting to drive while I’ve been on council is to reinstate that, and thankfully we’re getting there.”

Ms Beale also said she hoped tourism is boosted in the Perth Hills.

“We’ve got the most beautiful place up here and there’s trails, wineries, cider houses, restaurants and we’re only 45 minutes from the CBD — why would you go to Margaret River when you can come up here?” she said.

“We’re the hills, and it’s the gateway to these great adventures and we’ve got to do a better job of marketing our thing which can create really good employment opportunities for younger people.

Ms Beale said she hopes to leave a lasting legacy in the community her family had been in for generations.

“If you can get in there and change something and be a part of the solution rather than part of the problem then you’re leaving the situation in a better place, aren’t you?”