Former councillor Michael Schilling will not be running in this year’s council elections leaving a third of the vote open for Pakenham Lakeside’s ward.
Schilling was a councillor for one term between 2016 and 2020, he was one of the youngest to ever be elected to Cardinia Shire Council at 27-years-old.
A popular councillor during his term, Schilling has chosen not to attempt a return in 2024.
“It’s just a different stage of life, I have a full-time role in the health sector now,” Schilling said.
Schilling is a nurse for Monash Health, in a leading role within care for pediatric oncology patients.
In 2023 he was given Nurse of the Year and Emerging Leader awards at Monash Health’s 17th Annual Nursing and Midwifery Awards and Scholarships.
Today, Schilling wishes to keep his focus in this role instead of making a potential commitment to public office.
“I don’t want to half-back the job of a councillor, it’s important to me to dedicate myself to the role,” Schilling said.
“I know there are councillors who do have full-time jobs, but it wouldn’t work for me.”
Schilling ran for a second term in 2020 where he led first preferences with a third of the vote in Toomuc Ward.
He lost down the ballot, where Cr Stephanie Davies won by only 66 votes after preferential distribution.
Schilling is still a member of the Australian Greens where he remains active in the Cardinia branch.
