The principal of a school with about 1700 students, a local Rotarian and loving grandma, Julie Mason knows a thing or two about the people of Wyndham, writes Rebecca Miller.
What’s your connection to the local community?
I’m principal of Baden Powell College and have lived in Wyndham for 32 years, including the last four in Sanctuary Lakes. Prior to that I lived in Werribee.
I’ve been a member of Wyndham Rotary for the past 20 years.
As of July next year I will be the district governor, which means I will be supporting 71 Rotary clubs in Victoria. I will visit each club and provide guidance and support to them.
I love being involved with Rotary. I get to catch up with 25 to 30 friends every Wednesday night.
Being a member is an amazing experience. We provide weekend camps for young people and I am involved in programs including Early Act for primary students and Interact for 12-18 year olds.
Those involved in these programs meet fortnightly and take part in school, community and international projects to improve the community and learn the value of volunteering. Programs include making an anti-bullying DVD for schools, visiting a local preschool and reading books to the children, and fund-raising for a new school in Cambodia to provide uniforms, books and other resources.
What do you love about Wyndham?
The cultural diversity of the people and their food. I’m eating food I wasn’t 32 years ago, including Thai, Korean and African.
There’s also lots of young families in the area and retirement villages being built, so there’s a great range of ages in the community.
What would you like changed in Wyndham?
The traffic. I’ve spent time on committees for local government and we’ve been trying to minimise traffic. I have to double my time to get from one side of Wyndham to the other, compared with five years ago.
How do you spend your downtime?
I love taking my two grandsons to the beach at Werribee South and to Point Cook Coastal Park. I also love the history of the [Werribee]mansion.
Where’s your favourite place to get coffee or a bite to eat?
Waterstone Café at Sanctuary Lakes. It’s peaceful, the food and entertainment is fantastic – the chicken parmigiana is beautiful.
Ferguson Plarre in Sanctuary Lakes makes the best cappuccino.
