By Violet Li
Cranbourne’s Kanu Aggarwal is taking a step forward to run as a candidate in the Correa Ward in the upcoming council election.
Casey’s Citizen of the Year in 2022, Kanu came to Australia 15 years ago to join her husband. She went from having nothing to working hard and settling in Casey.
“This country has given me a lot, so now it is my turn to give something back to this community,” she said.
Kanu volunteers, offers free interpretation services, helps conduct cultural and religious events, and organises programs for children.
A teacher by profession, Kanu teaches childcare, disability, and aged-care courses to her students and guides them on what course they should choose according to current job scenarios and what skills they have.
“I think it’s just my nature, my temperament that when something comes to me as an issue or as a concern, I don’t think twice, whether I should solve this, whether I should take steps or not. I just take steps according to my resources, skills, and capabilities,” she said.
That nature of finding ways to address issues attracted the attention of the local community, securing her Citizen of the Year in 2022 when she established a platform to assist Australian parents in advocating for children stranded overseas.
Kanu also firmly advocates against bullying and racism, and for human rights and migration rights.
A mother of two, Kanu believes nominating herself as a candidate could convey symbolic significance to other women.
“One more reason for me to stand for election is to bring more women into leadership roles. I just want to set an example for women that they can become leaders if they want,” she said.
“It’s a traditional way to set rights and responsibilities for women that they should stay at home and look after kids.
“But apart from that, I think women need to step out of their homes and out of their comfort zone and think about the community and their families as well.
“More women should step up to participate equally in policymaking and implementation.”
As she has embedded herself in the community, Kanu believes she knows the priorities of the Correa Ward.
“I have the vision to create a safe and welcoming community where everyone feels at home and secure. We need to do something, more policing, more public awareness, and more neighborhood watch,” she said.
“Apart from that, Casey is growing and growing, so the community needs more housing, more roads, and more infrastructure to thrive.
“But we need to look after sustainability and the environment as well. This means not just planting trees and creating green spaces, but also developing in a way that respects and protects our environment. We need to find a balance between growth and nature.
“I also think we need to create more awareness in the community about cultural appreciation. Knowing a culture from a distance is one thing, but appreciating the good aspects of a culture is a different thing. We need to see the good aspects of a particular culture and embrace that.”
Bringing democracy home is one more ambition for Kanu.
“We are living in a democratic country. Democracy is the basic right of every human being. Casey is under administration, and I think it’s lost its way,” she said.
“Transparency is the pillar of democracy… I must say if I win the election and if I see anything that is not a part of transparency, I will raise that issue.
“My primary priority would be to ensure complete transparency within the council so that the public knows what their representatives are doing, especially regarding planning permits.
“It is crucial to adhere to policies and procedures and assess planning applications based on their merits, without personal gain or subjective opinions.”
