There is a current of excitement in the air. A hum in the street. Something big happened on the weekend. Independent women stood up to represent their communities all over Australia. And voters have backed them in.
One of the biggest upsets of the weekend happened right here in our own backyard. Men, women, sisters, daughters, sons, husbands, wives, new voters and old liberals quietly folded their ballot papers and hoped for the change the Northern Beaches, if not Australia, desperately needs. And the best part – we now have two female Independent MPs on the beaches covering Mackellar and Warringah.
Meet Dr Sophie Scamps. Wife and mother of three gorgeous children. Former emergency room doctor and local GP turned your local MP for Mackellar.
Sophie started campaigning for change in 2019 when she founded Our Blue Dot, a community-led non-profit organisation aimed at empowering the local community to reduce our waste and emissions, successfully supporting the installation of solar panels on Avalon Surf Club.
From there Sophie was a founding member of Voices of Mackellar in 2020, a non-partisan community organisation set up to engage people in their democracy.
In 2021, Sophie founded Mackellar Rising with friend Anyo Geddes with the express intention of building a movement to support an independent candidate for Mackellar. It is from here Sophie held ‘kitchen table’ discussions with the community to dig deep and listen to what the community had to say.
Sophie and her team delivered what has been dubbed a ‘faultless’ campaign. A professional, grassroots, community-led campaign that encapsulated the spirit of the northern beaches and gave frustrated residents hope.
Real action on climate change, an independent integrity commission, health, small business and our economy are top priorities for Sophie as she heads to Canberra ready to represent our community.
Get ready for a different way of doing politics – from transparent voting records on Sophie’s website to regular town halls.
Here at Northern Beaches Mums we are thrilled with this result and cannot wait to watch two intelligent, educated and local community mothers represent our voice in Canberra.
Keep up to date with Dr Sophie Scamps – https://www.sophiescamps.com.au
Keep up to date with Zali Steggal – https://www.zalisteggall.com.au
Written by Chloe Feris