By Kendrea Rhodes
You’d like a bloke who loves football, cars and motorbikes: a bloke who grew up in the hills and now lives on a 10 acre hobby farm with his wife and children. You could relate to someone who has been influenced by his father and some might say, following in his footsteps: a bloke who considers himself an absolute hills person. These criteria could fit many people in the hills, but the person I am talking about is Mark Goldsworthy (pictured above).
He is our sitting parliamentary member for the electoral district of Kavel. He is passionate about his community, one that he, and his own children, have grown up in. He has been our elected member for the last 8 years and enjoys driving around the district, attending to the diverse issues faced by the locals.
Mark was born the middle child of three to Roger and Lyn Goldsworthy. They lived on a 140 acre grazing and horticultural farm in Houghton. Roger Goldsworthy was the first sitting member for the district of Kavel, created in 1969. He held that seat for 22 years and helped forge a productive community in the hills. The boundaries of Kavel have changed somewhat since Roger retired, but that is all now part and parcel of the electoral system; boundaries are reviewed and adjusted to represent the statewide vote after every election.
As a teenager, Mark began his working life with the ANZ bank, straight from secondary school. His first assigned branch was in Lobethal, when the ANZ was known as the Bank of Adelaide. Over the years, he worked in many branches around the State, eventually moving up the ranks to become a manager and moving into Adelaide. In 1986 he married Tracey and built a home on a 10 acre block just around the corner from his parents.
After 22 years with the ANZ, Mark felt that he needed a change in direction and new challenges. He resigned from the bank, with his family’s blessings, and entered a world of uncertainty. He had a few jobs, contracting his banking skills and even as a casual construction worker, getting his hands dirty. His career evolved into politics when he became the political adviser to the State Member for Schubert and research assistant to a Liberal senator. All the while, Mark has been a Liberal Party member and these jobs reinforced his lifelong interest in politics. He took on voluntary roles in the Liberal Party and hasn’t looked back since.
He was elected the Member for Kavel when the polls were declared on the 19th of February, 2002, and since then his office has been situated on the main street in Lobethal. Due to electoral boundary changes after last year’s state elections, the district of Kavel has expanded to include part of the City of Murray Bridge (previously belonging to Hammond). This means that Lobethal is no longer the centre of the electorate, thereby facilitating the move to a more central location for all constituents, to 48 Hutchinson Street, in Mount Barker. For residents closer to Lobethal, Mark still takes appointments at the Lobethal RSL Hall on Friday mornings. And for those who wish to catch a bus to the office in Mount Barker, bus stop number 66 is right out front, on route numbers; 838 & 839 (catch from stop 64 at Mt. Barker Post office). The new Kavel Electorate office phone number is 8391 5599.
Yes, Mark is a politician, but in his free time, he is restoring a 1970 Ford Falcon XY, or riding his off-road enduro motorbike, or watching his favourite football team; the Adelaide Crows. Just an ordinary bloke doing an extraordinary job.
