Bunbury surgeon Dr Sue Chapman revealed as Voices for Forrest’s pick to run for seat as independent candidate

A Bunbury surgeon has been revealed as the Voices for Forrest’s pick to contest the seat at the Federal election. Sue Chapman formally announced her run for office at a campaign launch event at the Sanctuary Golf Resort on Sunday, in what she described as the “worst kept secret in Bunbury”. She told attendees the decision to run for Federal Parliament was a difficult one, but she saw the community at a crossroads. “The current Liberal member for Forrest (Nola Marino) is retiring after 16 years, and the next Liberal candidate (Ben Small) is waiting in the wings,” Dr Chapman said. “The people of Forrest must decide if more of the same is good enough for them. “After more than 50 years of Liberal representation, the people of Forrest deserve a Federal MP willing to work with them, to hear them out, to take their ideas to Canberra.” Dr Chapman has lived in the South West for 25 years, after initially relocating to the region with her husband and then three-month-old daughter to start regional WA’s first permanent urology service. “Moving to the South West all those years ago and building a life here is the best decision I’ve ever made,” she said. “It was daunting and a steep learning curve, but then I’ve never been one to shy away from a challenge, and I’m certainly not afraid of hard work. That transition is much like the one I find myself making right now.” Dr Chapman was chosen from four shortlisted community members who put their hands up to run as an independent through the Voices for Forrest movement. Each had to meet criteria based on the movement’s community consultation before progressing to a selection process including a six-member panel. Dr Chapman has a long history of charitable work, having travelled to Madagascar for more than 15 years to volunteer as a surgeon through Australian Doctors for Africa. She has also previously served as president of the Save Our Gelorup Corridor group, which opposed the building of the Bunbury Outer Ring Road project through the locality. Voices for Forrest convenor Gita Sonnenberg said Dr Chapman’s selection had been 15 months in the making, with the movement created after a meeting in the Bunbury library in July last year. She held back tears as she was introducing Dr Chapman, describing her as a candidate with a proven track record of community involvement, one who had demonstrated great leadership and who is a passionate advocate. “She has a great smile and is an empathetic listener,” Ms Sonnenberg said. “She’s an accomplished professional who’s capable, driven, smart and hardworking, and she has a cute dog. We couldn’t wish for more.” Ms Sonnenberg said she was grateful to those who had applied to be a candidate, along with the movement’s supporters in the community. Dr Chapman said she was looking forward to giving back to the community which had embraced her. “My relationship with the people of Forrest is a two-way partnership, rather than the same old transactional party politics that expects your vote for not very much in return,” she said. “A healthier form of democracy for everyone would include more engagement, more collaboration and more say on the future direction of Forrest.”