





Steve McCarthy - Former A Ward Ballina
CANDIDATE DETAILS
Name: Stephen McCarthy
Council: Ballina Shire (A Ward)
Town/City: Ballina
After enjoying 8 years of representing the people of Ballina Shire, I would like to thank the community for their perseverance and resilience during this long road to go forward after the past few turbulent years. Naturally, council obligations, services and deliveries are finding a path through those constraints. Another, holistic problem going forward is the growing community as the population realizes they don’t need to live in the city. Infrastructure is key, therefore acknowledging our financial delivery constraints must be balanced.
I believe we are on the correct pathway. Much debate, ethically, financially and fairly is considered before this council progresses or timelines a project.
I love the fact that council has such a wide variety of personalities (very inclusive).
I constantly, compare council obligations with coaching basketball. You know, obtaining the correct mindset, building the culture you want, predefines the results you try to obtain. Forever learning is a constant. My favorite American, Abraham Lincoln once said, “There is nothing stronger than kindness” and I like that.
To know where you want to get to, you must have a philosophy. For example:
My coaching philosophy is to give correction without resentment. I plan to win training periods so the athletes can win games, (not necessarily measured on a scoreboard, I don’t like that way of thinking). Would like my athletes to learn
- Never try to be better than anybody else
- Always learn from others (Holistic)
- Never cease trying to be the best they can be, (only they will know that, they can fool me, parents, each other, but they can’t fool themselves)
Would endeavor to teach the difference between winning and success (which is, “Peace of mind attained only through self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to be the best of which you are capable, under the conditions that exist for you”)
Would like them to recognize the difference between character and reputation (one is what you are perceived to be and the other is what you really are) “Character is much more important”. They may think they are the same, but not necessarily so. Want them to have character, not be a character.
By seasons end I would like them to acknowledge that “Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”
And “If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.”(Wooden 2003)
Reference
Wooden, J 2003, They Call Me Coach, McGraw Hill Education, viewed 5/10/2007 2007,