My family arrived in Australia with me in tow in the 60’s. Dad and Mum headed off to factories shortly after. They would remain there until retirement.

We lived on Palace St Petersham and I rode the red rattler to Ashfield Boys. Later we moved out Liverpool way.

I left school, did an apprenticeship and worked in the motor trade a few years. The careers advisor said it was the thing to do - if you liked cars.

 I was drawn to music in my teens and ended up playing in bands. It was the 80’s, the music scene was buzzing and there were heaps of pubs about the inner city. Sadly most of them now closed. We released a single, a video and made the independent charts. Looking to repeat that on Sept. 9.

I settled down got married, a mortgage and two kids. For the next 10 years, I worked in community services providing advocacy for people with disabilities and managing childcare programs.

I coached junior football (that's sock-ah to the “uninitiated”), climbing through the ranks to coach NSW State sides. We won 3 championships - c'mon you blues.

I studied and re-trained in Information Technology and have remained in that field ever since. Today I’m a consultant providing IT services to both the public and private sector.

I was lucky enough to return to the inner west 6 years ago. I love its diversity, its vibrancy and that it's ok to have purple and green hair, if you want. “My time”, is spent between coffee at Cornersmith, plays at the New Theatre and foreign film festivals at Palace on Norton.

I love the place to bits and every bit about the place.

So when my community was threatened I stepped forward. Council amalgamations got me started. Toll roads, over development and the gradual and unrelenting erosion of our democratic rights got me hooked. The sprinkling of disingenuous politicians just strengthen my resolve to make a difference.

I reached out to community groups and asked if I could help. I became an advocate. I’ve spoken at council, I’ve spoken in town halls, I’ve spoken at rallies and even in the NSW Senate.  

I’m local and boy am I vocal.

A WestConnex representative has told disgruntled residents to ‘come after me’ if the promises he makes as project director for the M4-M5 link are broken.

The Sydney Motorway Corporation is responsible for the construction of WestConnex, and finally met with community members after dodging earlier community consultations.

It was standing room only at the Balmain Town Hall on Thursday night as hundreds of residents gathered to hear from and ask questions of the SMC.

Remember when the Sydney Motorways Corporation came to Balmain to tell us how wonderful WestConnex was going to be? Since no one in the world built toll roads in their cities anymore, I just wanted to know why they felt they knew better?

John Lozano of Haberfield made an impassioned appeal to the Mr Pearson, that he act on the issue of WestConnex or resign as Administrator. “Barely six weeks ago I stood here and cautiously welcomed your comments. ‘This council opposes WestConnex in the strongest possible terms’. I thought we had a champion in our midst...

“Since then I have asked, what have you done? Today I ask that same question, but it’s rhetorical. Your replies have been skimpish at best and you don’t even record comments in your minutes.”