Newly endorsed Animal Justice Party candidate for East Bendigo Vyonne McLelland-Howe has had a life-long passion for animal welfare.
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But the 68-year-old says the party, which she joined around 18 months ago, is not just about animals but a bigger vision of compassion and kindness.
"Their core values are kindness, equality, rationality, and non-violence, and for me, they go right to my heart."
The former family lawyer, who worked largely in the legal aid system, says she witnessed "incredible cruelty" over the course of her career and wants to represent "the only political party dedicated to stopping all forms of cruelty".
Ms McLelland-Howe argues the AJP has a full suite of "rational", evidence-based policies and positions on "people and the planet", as well as animals, and its candidates are "nice people" who "push kindness".
"With the Animal Justice Party I've found my tribe," the mother-of-three and grandmother says.
"I wish I'd found them a lot earlier."
Born in Dimboola, Ms McLelland-Howe moved to Bendigo as a young child then left to spend 12 years in Queensland, the UK and India with her husband, who was in the navy, before returning home in 2016.
In 2020 she ran unsuccessfully for local government as a Lockwood ward candidate.
A member of the Bendigo branch of the Australian Conservation Foundation, the Wildlife Rescue and Information Network (WRIN) and the Friends of Riley Street Natural Reserve group, Ms McLelland-Howe has a keen interest in bushland regeneration and the creation of wildlife corridors.
At a state level, she is focused on seeing the end of firewood harvesting from the Wellsford State Forest and the conversion of the remnant box ironbark forest there into a national park, as recommended by the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council in its 2019 Central West investigation report.
She is also a strong advocate on climate change and an opponent of duck shooting.
Ms McLelland-Howe believes running for the Animal Justice Party will help draw attention to environmental and animal welfare issues locally and give Bendigo East voters the option to express their views.
"It's about raising awareness of the issues," she says.
