I was raised in Nyah, alongside the beautiful Nyah and Vinifera Forests - where my parents owned the local Roadhouse.  Nyah was a great place to grow up, with nature all around and a close-knit community.  Owning the local servo meant being connected to locals and visitors alike.

After studying Science and Humanities at The University of Melbourne and Burnley College, I came home to work my dream jobs in Landcare, Land Rehabilitation and Nature Conservation. I worked in the Public Service (Land for Wildlife Program and Catchment Management), Landcare Facilitation (Kooloonong Natya Landcare Group) and Greening Australia NSW (Seedbank and Veg Protection Officer). 

Choosing to settle and raise a family here, I established a wholesale indigenous nursery over eight years, producing millions of plants for large scale revegetation across northwest Victoria.  I also began to take an active role in our family farm. 

Our region is home to the most productive and innovative horticulture in the nation. For over twenty years now, I have co-managed our stone fruit business at Woorinen. We have adapted, expanded, and see a positive future.

I contribute through our industry bodies, as a Committee member and in the Water Portfolio for Swan Hill Summer Fruits and on the GWM Water Services Committee.

I value nature and the outdoor lifestyle that our region offers.  Fishing, camping, boating – our public parks and reserves, rivers, lakes floodplains.  These are natural assets that we need to look after.  I have served on various committees including NCCMA Loddon Implementation Committee, GMW Water Services Committee and have invested considerable time to our region’s local sustainability group (Sustainable Living in the Mallee).  During the past five years I have been serving Treasurer and I run the Landcare Facilitator position.  I have also been Chair for three of those five.  I was instrumental in the establishment of the Murray Mallee Indigenous Seedbank, Mid Murray Landcare/Greening Network and the Friends of Nyah Vinifera Park.   I have also been an active member of the Mid Murray Field Naturalists.

In 2017, I participated in the Australian Conservation Foundations Rivers Fellowship, dedicated to community organising and building capacity in community to stand up for the Murray Darling Rivers.  I continue to engage in the implementation of the Murray Darling Basin Plan.  I am now a member of the Loddon Environmental Watering Advisory Committee.

I have loved being involved in this work over many years with local groups and organisations.  There are so many great people I have met who love this region and have incredible local knowledge. 

I understand and acknowledge climate change as a fundamental problem for our community and humanity more generally.  It is impacting us locally right now and is a threat to our future way of life.  I feel a responsibility to work to change that.

I love that we live in a region with a unique and ancient history.  I have a deep respect for admiration for the First Peoples of our Municipality and nation. I have advocated in strong support of genuine reconciliation, truth telling and for a fair and vibrant future for First Nations people. I’m proud that we live in a state that is progressing Treaty and am following the important work of the Yoorook Justice Commission.

Inspired by the rise of Community Independents in Australian politics, I am a founding Board member of Voices for Mallee.  I acknowledge the critical role participatory democracy could play in building the communities and future we want. I have completed training in Co-operative Governance in 2022 and have just completed a Certificate in Community Leadership and Governance for Local Government.

I have loved raising my family here within the Swan Hill Rural City Council and look forward to working for our community to protect the things we love and bring the positive changes we want.

Peta Thornton - Vibrant, Inclusive Community!