Bringing the community along with Ethan White
Ethan White is a councillor for the Town of Gawler. Ethan shares his story about being elected, representing his community, and advice for young people wanting to get involved in local politics.
Zane LeBlond: So, starting off small, what are some of your hobbies and things that you do to stay relaxed?
Ethan White: I really enjoy filmmaking. I like telling other people’s stories and I’ve always grown up really enjoying films and creating videos. My second really big passion is travelling. I have been very fortunate enough to travel the state, the country and overseas, visiting other people and learning about other cultures and their stories and being able to share them with others I think is a really important thing that if you have the privilege to do, you should do, because you can certainly learn a lot from other people’s experiences. So filmmaking and traveling are my biggest hobbies and when they are combined.
ZL: It would be the best feeling!
EW: Exactly!
ZL: What made you want to become a councillor for the community in Gawler, and was this influenced in any way by your hobbies?
EW: Yeah, well for me, the reason I enjoy traveling and filmmaking and that sort of stuff is because I like learning about other people and sharing their stories. That, and I had always been heavily involved in the Gawler community. I really love where I live and our community. I guess leading up to the 2022 local government elections, a number of people really encouraged me to run for council, ‘You would be really great candidate,’ and, ‘You love the community’, and, ‘It would be a really great opportunity to represent others,’ and I was like, ‘I don’t know if that’s what I want.’
“For me, bringing the community along is the most crucial part.”
ZL: And you were also only 20 at the time as well.
EW: Yes, exactly. Yeah, and these discussions were happening when I was 18 and 19. I didn’t even know what councils did, but I took the plunge, and I was successful at being elected. I am really appreciative and quite honoured to be in the position which I am. Being able to be a voice for the community and represent a group of people who have historically been underrepresented in local government – in particular younger people – I think is quite an honour.
How the passions lead to that, I really like trying to help people and listen to act and being on council means I have the privilege of doing that. The most rewarding part is when someone comes to you with a concern or an issue and you’re actually able to help them and see a great outcome, that’s super rewarding.
ZL: It’s a really good feeling.
EW: Absolutely!
ZL: Being a councillor now for two years (congratulations), how have you found it?
EW: It’s crazy to think it’s been two years. Look it’s been everything and nothing to what I’ve expected! It’s certainty been a whirlwind of a journey, and I have appreciated every second of it. I got into it so I could really represent the community, and I am really grateful that I have been able to achieve a number of things for the community and been amongst the community supporting Gawler, which I love so much. Some of the things I wasn’t expecting was there was a lot of work, lots of reading, late nights, especially trying to fit it in with the rest of my life. Trying to wrap my head around the legislation, the financial statements…
ZL: As a law student I feel your pain!
EW: Absolutely, you understand it! It’s a lot! Even from then I am learning so much still, everyday, and I am very grateful to the people who have helped me learn. While it’s a lot, I am really interested in understanding the system on how we make change in this country, which can take a long time sometimes. It’s no secret the wheels of government and local government move very slowly, but when you get your head around the system, you can understand the best ways to get around things.
Cr Ethan White speaking at the 2024 Youth Period Summit.
ZL: On that note, what has been a high point and a low point?
EW: For me, we have been able to do a lot for the community in the last two years–
ZL: Such as Taboo period products in Gawler public toilets!
EW: Yes! I think the stuff we are doing around period justice is a massive high point. I was approached by a community member with this concern. It wasn’t something that had crossed my mind too much and when I educated myself, I realised this was a huge systemic issue in society. So, I wanted to do my bit in Gawler, working with Taboo, the Commissioner for Children and Young People, and getting the community on board was great and super rewarding. I was blown away from the unanimous community support I received. I was like wow, this is seriously a huge concern we’re not tackling, and once we started talking about it, people really embraced it whole heartedly, so that was a huge high point for me. I think low points, it can be really tough sometimes. You’re in a public role within the community, not everyone is always going to agree with you and that’s fine, that’s democracy, but I think sometimes people can take things personally, getting caught up in the personal side versus the actual policy side and for me that’s a big no-no. When I debate in Council I debate the policy, not the personality – we are a really great group of elected members, we can disagree but come to a consensus and debate really respectfully. I am always here to listen to different points of view. Especially being a younger person, some people think because I have a two in front of my age I shouldn’t be there and it’s like – hold on a sec, I was elected to be here and represent lots of people in the community, so that can definitely be a challenge, but I try to embrace those. For me, bringing the community along is the most crucial part.
“I was like wow, this is seriously a huge concern we’re not tackling, and once we started talking about ti, people really embraced it whole heartedly.”
ZL: Now you’re no stranger to social media. Do you think it’s helped you connect with the community?
EW: Absolutely! Look, social media is a very powerful tool and in particularly my generation and a lot of young people use it as their main source of news and entertainment. So, we’ve got to be there if we want to get young people involved in local government, which for me is a huge passion of mine. I see a part of my purpose for being here is to be on social media, whenever that is by making funny Instagram reels or TikToks, or spreading important messages, I think it’s all equally important. I am passionate about local government, but I can definitely see why it’s such a dry topic for young people who aren’t interested. But it is that level of government that affects us every day and is the easiest to make a difference as a young person and as a community member.
ZL: Do you think local government is a good space for young people to develop their leadership skills?
EW: I think the first step to understand if you’re someone who is really passionate and cares about your community, and you know you stand for things that would make the community better or help improve it – and if you are that person then absolutely throw your hat in the ring. Have a chat now to elected members, have a chat with younger elected members if you feel more comfortable talking to them and seeing what it’s like.
ZL: How important do you think local government is to young people?
EW: Local government is that level that’s really closest to you. I think us young people are really passionate about social issues and growing up in a world which can be very topsy turvy, it’s definitely a very stressful environment to grow up in, especially economically. So, it’s important to understand how your levels of government work, and how you can make positive change. Local government is the most accessible form of government. You typically have a number of local councillors at your doorstep who can make change directly for you in the community. All your streets, parks and shops are linked with local government and if it wasn’t there, there would be a lot of pieces of the puzzle missing in our communities. It’s not to say that state and Federal aren’t important – of course they are – but sometimes local government is the forgotten sibling of local government and change can be made in a much faster way.
ZL: Do you think local governments across South Australia are listening to young people?
EW: I think we have come a long way in listening to young people, but we still have a long way to go, but the more younger people who get involved about making positive change and are actively involved in their local communities, the better it can be. Diversity is important in any decision-making body and one of those groups is younger people. If you’re someone who is really passionate about local government, get involved, get your voice heard, maybe consider running in 2026 for the next local government elections.
ZL: There is always more progress to be made.
EW: Absolutely! There is always more progress to be done, and we need to have our decision-making bodies represent our community’s diversity as best it can, and I think we still have a bit of a way to go yet.