From chamber choir to Council chambers, Janet Swain’s musical background couldn’t be further from her new role as a Byron Shire Councillor – or is it really?
‘I have always been interested in politics, and as I have grown older, I’ve begun to believe that politics is part of everyday life,’ says Cr Swain, who will officially take her seat in the chamber on Thursday.
‘Everything we do is politics in one way or another, and I’m trying to become more conscious of that in my daily life.’
Musical talent
Cr Swain is very well known throughout the area, and beyond, for her musical talent, including her gifts for singing, songwriting and playing the bassoon. She has lived in Japan, Singapore and Kuwait and she moved to the Northern Rivers ten years ago where she teaches music in local primary schools, runs community choirs, and sings with chamber choir, Dynasty8.
How will she reconcile her creative bent with being on Council? ‘I’m a creative person. I think creative life and creative activity is so important. I think what we’re really missing in Australia, is a sort of grassroots appreciation of creativity, and not just appreciation, but doing stuff.
‘In Byron it’s a big worry that we’re losing these music festivals. What is going on? I think there’s an opportunity for a change.’
Development
One of the big ticket items in the Byron Shire is development. Cr Swain has a clear view on her approach.
‘It astonishes me that Byron has been able to withstand the property developers from the Gold Coast. I know there’s so much criticism of Byron Council in the past, but somehow Byron has managed to fend that off to a great extent.
‘To use corporate language, I think the stronger the “brand” of Byron is, the better. The more that we are explicit in who we are and what we want, in building on what we already have, the better – which I know most people here want, but I also know there is huge pressure from outside to do other things,’ she told The Echo
Saying what we want first
‘I think one of the things that excites me about development is that, rather than zoning land and then letting the developers come in and do what they want, I think Council can really start identifying where the development can happen, saying what we want first, THEN zoning it for that – so you’re ahead of the ball.’
‘I have no illusions about any of this being easy, but as Linda Burney says, “Change never happens in straight lines. It happens slowly.” You’ve got to work on things slowly and carefully. You know, practically, it’s a practical job. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have big visions.’
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