Tamworth Regional Council elections 2021: Marjolyn Thomas, dressage competitor and former Tamworth Business Chamber executive officer to stand for council

CUT the red tape.

Former Tamworth Business Chamber executive officer Marjolyn Thomas is back with a fresh perspective that she hopes will win her a seat on Tamworth Regional Council (TRC).

"I'm a very positive person, I don't do negativity. Sure there are things that can be done better but let's look at it from the positive side and how we're going to do that better," she said.

"Let's not whinge and b**** and moan, or if you want to b**** - then get involved."

Born and bred in Holland, Mrs Thomas travelled to Australia to explore after school, fell in love with her husband and never left.

The pair started a construction business together that took them around the state where she grew her passion for the business community and began to want to drive change.

"I just wish that if people were to come to council with a business idea, it could be easier to get feedback on what is and isn't allowed," she said.

"If people have a dream and want to be entrepreneurs, they need to have whatever opportunity we can possibly assist them with to make that a reality."

Outside of business, Mrs Thomas is a keen dressage competitor and has become heavily involved in attracting new events to the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC).

The sport has helped her through countless difficult times in her life, which explains why when asked to bring an item of significance along with her, she carted her Australian warmblood horse Bunyip out on a float.

"I've always loved my animals, Bunyip in particular came to me eight years ago when I bought him sight unseen," she said.

"He's a direct reflection of how far I've come and what's not to love? He goes everywhere with me.

"I picked up horse-riding again and have fallen in love with dressage, I found I have a natural knack for communication, marketing, making connections, building, growing and maintaining relationships.

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"I'm feeling ready to come back and tackle something new and I thought what better than to actually get involved in council - it's the next big picture."

Fiercely independent, Mrs Thomas doesn't believe party politics have any role to play on the council and said she brings both a young, female and socially and culturally diverse perspective with her.

"We must work to have as diverse a council as possible, we have a very diverse community and they all need representation," she said.

"I'll be honest I'm not one of those people who thinks it's all bad and I want to change it because I actually don't believe its bad.

"I'm very much in support of a lot of things the council has done and is doing and I believe if you want to be part of something or have a say on something you have to be involved."

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