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‘Desperate’ to build a life
Rebuilding trust By Ethan Benedicto
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PERSON OF THE YEAR
Stefan Koomen was unanimously elected by the councillors as the new mayor of the City of Casey at a special meeting in November 2024. (Stewart Chambers: 442356) a reflection of that pride in Doveton and Casey’s suburbs.” Reflecting on his upbringing, Stefan attributes much of his drive for community work to his parents, where giving back and serving the people,
even through little things, was second nature. “Growing up, my mum and dad were active volunteers in the community where we lived, dad would mow the church lawns and mum would help run bingo,” he said.
“Dad was also a soccer coach, so there was always activity - so I think my parents impressed on me the importance of looking out for others and giving back. “I’ve carried that, I really have and maybe taken it to another level.” That sense of service led Koomen down many paths, such as his position as the Chair of the Doveton Eumemmering Township Association (DETA), being the Treasurer of the Doveton Show Committee, volunteering as Justice of the Peace in Doveton Library and his work through the Parliament of Victoria as a Senior Electorate Officer. “I think this role as mayor is, I guess, just another way to help serve the community, maybe at a bigger or broader scale,” he said. “I’m a big believer that being around other people makes life better, so being part of something has always been at the forefront of my mind. “I’ve never really played individual sports, I’ve always been in team sports, and I’ve always liked to be part of community groups and have a collective cause, and I think that has always driven me in things that I do.” However, it wasn’t until the Doveton Pool campaign gained traction in 2022 that he realised the potential for larger-scale impact. “The campaign gave me the confidence to run for council,” he said. Continued page 5
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Acting on his innate need to help others and serve the community has been as easy of a decision as wiping sweat off his brow, considering the work that has been done that led to that cherry on top as the City of Casey’s newest mayor. Stefan Koomen, Waratah Ward councillor and the city’s mayor, was unanimously voted into the position on Tuesday 19 November, making him the first mayor in over four years. What is - as is the council as a whole - a rather tumultuous position after the dismissal of the former council back in 2020 following an IBAC investigation into corruption, the newest clique in Bunjil Place has been off to a fresh and steady start. With Stefan’s hands on the helm, even he still sometimes found it hard to believe that he was elected as the mayor, saying that he is still “the same person as last month”. “Nothing’s really changed, it’s just that now I have an opportunity to have more say, and hopefully create change. “For me, nothing’s changed, but, in a way a lot’s changed,” he said. The shock was the biggest thing for Stefan despite it being nearly a month since his election; of course, there is the excitement, of the opportunities that have vested into him to be the voice of the people of Casey. “For me, being elected as mayor is almost a reflection of the community support that we had around that campaign,” he said. “It was a unifying campaign that brought a lot of people together.” The Doveton Pool campaign, one of the more significant and solidifying events of 2024 for Stefan, was all about making residents and locals heard, ensuring that, from their perspective, their problems are not ignored and are very much tangible. “The older people in the community grew up with the pool, and young families wanted a place for their kids to play in summer,” Koomen explained. “I was excited about it and really proud of what our community achieved and I think maybe I’m