MUNDARING exercise physiologist Toni Strutt says she wants to work with the community to future proof sport and recreational facilities, modernise volunteer organisation and protect the hills way of life.

Mrs Strutt said she had been a resident of the Perth Hills for about a decade and put her hand up for council because she saw an opportunity to represent young families on council.

“Looking at the council currently, I don’t see a lot of that family representation or current lived experience with younger kids,” she said.

“I’m pretty heavily involved in lots of areas in the community anyway so this just seemed like a natural stepping stone to continue that and have a say for the decisions that need to be made now that will impact the future and what my boys will experience.”

Aside from her professional work in the insurance and health industry for the last 17 years, Mrs Strutt has also been involved in the community as a Glen Forrest volunteer bushfire brigade member, a sporting club member and a parent.

Her experience as a fire brigade member had given her insight into the ways brigades could improve to allow for more volunteers and said current facilities were too small.

“The Glen Forrest fire station down on Hardy Road was built in the early 90s and there are no dedicated change room facilities,” she said.

“If you go into the station, it’s so cramped between the two trucks and the actual uniform racks you can’t even put your elbows out – it’s tiny.

“You’ve got a situation now where you’re trying to promote people to get involved in the firefighting effort, but you’ve got a facility you can barely move in for the crew and there’re no change room facilities.”

Mrs Strutt said she was apolitical and has never been, is not presently and did not plan to join a political party in the future.

“I feel like what I’m bringing to this space is the independence of being a local person – I’m just a mum, basically, but I have a lot of connections, and I am happy to have a voice for those connections on what we want to see in our community,” she said.

“I’m not politically motivated, past, current or future, truly independent, just want to make sure that we’re making decisions for the community for the future of the community.”

Mrs Strutt said she did not attend council meetings but was eager to learn everything she needed to bring the concerns of young families and other residents in her ward to the council.

She said although this was her first time running for council, she was eager to hear from as many residents as possible.

“The Shire of Mundaring is a place where everyone kind of knows everybody,” she said.

“But I’m trying to be active on my Facebook page as well so people can see my face a bit more and know that they can come and have a chat with me.”