Journalist Brian Kelly interviews Ann Martin, a Labor councillor for Ward 3, which covers the southern suburbs of Wollongong
As hard as living in Port Kembla has ever been for Ann Martin (and there was that time a burglar stole a bottle of fizz she had put aside for something special), at least she will never again live in a house with windows cracked by logs hitting the ground.
Berry might have been beautifully bucolic in the 1960s, but Martin grew up next to the town’s sawmill, and the vibrations of the mighty timbers falling were consequential. Moving between there and the raw industrial heart of Wollongong’s port in the 2020s has broadened her horizons mightily.
Every council needs a representative who rattles the cage on all matters artsy, and Martin is an ideal contender. “I went straight from high school to art school,” she said.
Like a lot of country kids, she “couldn’t wait to get out of there, frankly – and I swore I would never come back”, which meant, of course, she did, living with her father for about a year before volunteering led her to Port Kembla about 30 years ago.
The daughter of a Liberal party member (“you can imagine – I must have given him the shits big time! I don’t even know if I told him I’d joined the Labor party”), Ann’s career took her to the Illawarra’s blue-collar heartland. She held down a string of arts-related roles before landing in planning with the NSW government. Ann continues to make and exhibit contemporary landscape-based art and write and perform poetry.
The return to power of Labor federally gives Martin hope for issues such as arts funding.
“My arts journey has always been based on the role of artists in the community, and how they can add value to buildings, public realm and social development,” she said. “I’m not really interested in the glamour side of the industry. That’s why live music is more my cup of tea.”
With her warbling in improvisation outfit The Accidentals, and horn-playing husband Tim laying his own musical trail, live music became a passion that led Martin and others to start scoping out the Port area several years ago for an ideal gigging venue. The project led to Wentworth St and manifested in The Servo, now known as a laidback place for musicians and fans to convene.
It’s a venture she co-owns with five others. The Servo is coming good again after being a “skin of our teeth” operation courtesy of lockdowns and wet weather, and it still runs the gamut of noise-sensitive neighbours, even with 8pm finishes.
“Port Kembla’s becoming gentrified … I’m probably partly responsible for that,” Martin says. “You know, artists move into an area, it becomes interesting. People start to say ‘we like this – it’s funky’.
“The port is absolutely chockers, and the worst thing that can happen for us is if nuclear subs come … We want the hydrogen production, we want the offshore wind power generation … there’s a huge number of jobs there. It all re-invigorates Port Kembla as a major employment hub, and I want the creatives to be a part of that.”
Q&A with Ann Martin
Which accomplishment as a councillor has brought you the most satisfaction?
Establishing the live music taskforce at the same time as the cultural plan and night-time economy study had a real impact on understanding issues facing musicians, venues, police and planners. The document identifies that business centres need to consider that they are in an area that includes restaurants, cafes and live music venues. Council has also provided for new events including live music and there are many new music and food venues and small bars now across the local government area.
Which council ambition/project was your 'one that got away'?
I wanted to establish a creative trust fund for corporates to invest in arts, cultural development and environmental projects; this didn’t get support from art institutions or my fellow councillors, which was disappointing. However, Culture Bank, run by Our Community Project on Port Kembla, has been able to attract and distribute funds, albeit at a much more modest scale and not focusing on the bigger end of town (yet!)
How often do you attend neighbourhood forums?
I attend both forums each month unless I am away for work or at another council committee meetings and have done so for the 11 years of being an elected councillor.
Where should council's priorities lie over the next five years?
Council needs to keep up with the pressures of growth in West Dapto, continue to roll out community, recreation and cultural services across the city - support and encourage eco tourism and creative industry initiatives – or at least provide in principle support. This especially goes for creative employment opportunities in former BlueScope lands with an emphasis on film, digital media and pre- and post-production jobs arising from the film industry, boutique manufacturing, environmental focussed programs and new renewable industry initiatives. A hydrogen bus shuttle service for the southern suburbs should be introduced.
What's your favourite Illawarra beach?
Port Kembla – it’s my local, it’s not try-hard, it has great community and Port pool is fabulous.