I am pleased about the balanced number of female and male candidates for the upcoming council election in Wagga.

There are 29 women and 24 men. Surely this is a sign that times have changed for the better.

The minority of the men have double the years experience in local government when compared to the women, thus demonstrating how the systemic sexism that favours men and excludes women impacts upon women’s ability to gain experience in traditionally male-dominated spaces.

Seriously, it’s healthy to have diversity because otherwise we risk having a homogenised council that does not represent all of Wagga’s citizens. This is true of any walk in life. Local government is not a coffee club. It is also not a men’s club. It’s hard work and, like many pursuits undertaken by human beings, needs many hours of time devoted to the task. Family and friends appreciate that you are aspiring to effect change and recognise that caregiving is but one of the many responsibilities and interests that you are capable of managing. It is often complex and controversial, all putting pressure on daily, weekly, yearly lifestyle, so it is good that all of the women and men running for council are aware of this fact. You become a public figure, fair game for critics, which is something that all of these capable candidates will take in their stride.

When you vote on September 10 make sure that you choose the people who you believe have the knowledge and capacity to make Wagga a better place.

Sarah Beltrame. Wagga

Yes, Peter Dale (Give blokes a chance, August 16, 2016), for the first time in Wagga City Council election history, there are slightly more women standing as candidates in 2016. Isn’t that fantastic?

What is even more remarkable is that – again, for the first time in Wagga City Council election history – we have two all-female group tickets. In fact, there are four group tickets led by women and three ungrouped female candidates.

Makes a change from last election, when there were three all-male group tickets, only one group ticket led by women, no ungrouped women candidates, and just 30% of the candidates were women. And it’s a change our local government area desperately needs.

You see, the way the system works, it’s only the #1 candidate (and sometimes #2) on group tickets, and ungrouped candidates with massive support, who stand a real chance of being elected. That’s why we ended up with one woman elected in 2012.

Oh, but wait, you want to play the experience line? Of course men have more experience in local government than women – that’s pretty easy to achieve when it’s generally been men who have always been elected.

Our council has, for most of its 145-year history, been dominated by older white, middle-class businessmen. So much of our broader community – people from culturally diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal people, women, young people, people with disabilities and those from socio-economic disadvantaged backgrounds – have missed out on having a seat at the council table and have not been able to add their voice to the discussions and decisions about the strategic future of our city. And our community has stagnated in comparison to other council areas as a result.

The women standing for the 2016 council election have amazing credentials. These are hardworking women who know first-hand about what it’s like to balance multiple roles and commitments, to devote hour after hour towards creating a better community, because they already live it daily, weekly and yearly.

These women have stepped up. Now it’s up to Wagga residents to vote wisely, and bring in the change our city needs.

Jenny Rolfe, Wagga