Cade Lucas
Heather Marcus’ OAM for more than 40 years of service to Wyndham, nearly didn’t happen.
“In 1984 my world crashed, my marriage broke up and it was a battle for the next few years,” recalled Ms Marcus who moved to Werribee with her husband and two children in 1969.
“I wanted to throw it all in and return to my family in Beaufort.”
Fortunately for Wyndham, her ex-husband was a member of the then Werribee-council and one of his then colleagues convinced her to stay.
“Councillor Teddy Dowling put me on six committees and so another journey began for me,” said Ms Marcus who to that point owned a clothing store in Watton Street.
“That was my life changer and I felt free as a bird to go out and work in the community.”
And work she has.
While running her own business, Ms Marcus threw herself into committee work, particularly the Werribee Chamber of Commerce where she ran promotions and helped organise the beautification of Watton Street in the 1980s.
But it was spearheading the chamber’s opposition to plans to turn centenary hall into a pokie venue that was a precursor of what was to come.
“We fought hard” said Ms Marcus of the campaign against the plans of the former Werribee council.
When then Premier Jeff Kennett sacked Victoria’s councils and appointed commissioners in their place, those appointed to Werribee agreed with her position and Hall was saved.
“That was one of the highlights that we were able to save that venue,” said Cr Marcus of what is today the Wyndham Cultural Centre.
After years of dealing with council, Ms Marcus was finally elected herself in 2005.
“I’ve been there ever since” she said of her career as a councillor which included two terms as mayor.
Alongside her role in local government, Ms Marcus has become an event organiser too, bringing the likes of the Victorian Dancesport Championships, Weerama Festival, Fashion Awards Australia and the Australian Gown of the Year to Werribee.
It’s a record deserving of recognition, but Ms Marcus was still taken aback when news of her OAM finally arrived.
“I sat down and looked at the email and thought ‘no this can’t be right’,” she said.
There’ll be no resting on her laurels though, as Ms Marcus remains as committed as ever to serving the community she still likens to a country town.
“My time in Wyndham has had its ups and downs but this makes you stronger and I will continue to work with all residents so that we continue to have a happy liveable city to live in.”
