Independents' Day
Alan Davidson
UP until October 24 we will all be voting for councillors (or get fined!) at the forthcoming Moonee Valley City Council elections.
It's interesting in that there are some councillors no doubt going again that belonged to or have belonged to various of the major political parties. There are also going to be independent candidates.
We've all seen, maybe, in the past the candidate bios that get sent to voters or put up on websites and they seem to, most of the time, fit a formula.
Well, I thought for a change that I would ask a couple of our candidates if they'd be interested in a Q&A which wasn't all politics, business and education background.
Following are those questions (with answers!) as posed to Independent candidates ROSE ISER (Myrnong Ward) and LUISA MUSCARA (Rose Hill Ward).
It's interesting in that there are some councillors no doubt going again that belonged to or have belonged to various of the major political parties. There are also going to be independent candidates.
We've all seen, maybe, in the past the candidate bios that get sent to voters or put up on websites and they seem to, most of the time, fit a formula.
Well, I thought for a change that I would ask a couple of our candidates if they'd be interested in a Q&A which wasn't all politics, business and education background.
Following are those questions (with answers!) as posed to Independent candidates ROSE ISER (Myrnong Ward) and LUISA MUSCARA (Rose Hill Ward).
Rose Iser (Independent, Myrnong Ward)

What is your fondest early memory as a child?
Dancing, acting, dressing-up, reading, building sandcastles, occasionally handing out leaflets at elections with my Dad.
Who did you want to be like when you were growing up?
Gandhi
What did you enjoy most when you were at school?
Challenging the teachers!
Were your teen years smooth sailing? Did you get into trouble?
Fortunately, there was no social media so no one will ever know!
Can you remember what sort of job, if any, you wanted?
To write.
What do you do now?
Study, teach and sometimes write.
Why do you want to be a Moonee Valley councillor?
To help others and serve the community. It’s that simple and that complicated.
What can you bring to the job?
Creativity, insight, experience, compassion, empathy, attention to detail, hard-work, a focus on others, commitment to the environment, great op-shop clothes, rubbish cooking skills, a great booming voice!
Dancing, acting, dressing-up, reading, building sandcastles, occasionally handing out leaflets at elections with my Dad.
Who did you want to be like when you were growing up?
Gandhi
What did you enjoy most when you were at school?
Challenging the teachers!
Were your teen years smooth sailing? Did you get into trouble?
Fortunately, there was no social media so no one will ever know!
Can you remember what sort of job, if any, you wanted?
To write.
What do you do now?
Study, teach and sometimes write.
Why do you want to be a Moonee Valley councillor?
To help others and serve the community. It’s that simple and that complicated.
What can you bring to the job?
Creativity, insight, experience, compassion, empathy, attention to detail, hard-work, a focus on others, commitment to the environment, great op-shop clothes, rubbish cooking skills, a great booming voice!
What hobbies do you have?
Running, gardening, writing, singing, piano, making masks, pestering decision makers. Do you have a favourite TV show or series? Just finished Unorthodox (trailer at left) – brilliant. What was the best live concert you went to see? What’s a live concert? I’ve forgotten! |
Luisa Muscara (Independent, Rose Hill Ward)
Can you remember what sort of job, if any, you wanted?
I was an avid reader all my childhood and loved how you could escape into a book and live vicariously through the characters in the books. I always dreamed of being a writer so I could create that experience for others.
What do you do now?
I own my own small consulting business. I am a human factors specialist, where I work with organisations to make processes safer and more efficient.
I was an avid reader all my childhood and loved how you could escape into a book and live vicariously through the characters in the books. I always dreamed of being a writer so I could create that experience for others.
What do you do now?
I own my own small consulting business. I am a human factors specialist, where I work with organisations to make processes safer and more efficient.

Why do you want to be a Moonee Valley Councillor?
The pandemic has changed our world, and I want to protect and advocate for the vulnerable in the community and see them thrive in an environmentally and economically safe, secure future. I have been through some financial adversity in my life. I grew up during a recession and learnt many skills and developed a mindset around self-sufficiency, sustainability, and resourcefulness. When the pandemic began, I realised these experiences may be valuable to my community, and I wanted to extend my assistance where I could.
What can you bring to the job?
I have a professional background in leadership, training, auditing and facilitation, so I am a very experienced communicator who will be out in the community having the conversations that need to happen.
I have a long history of volunteering in Australia and overseas for a number of organisations including my honeymoon volunteering in schools in Guatemala, Heads Together, Zoos Victoria, Lions Club Camps and Soup Kitchens. I want to be a councillor not for status or renumeration, but because I care about the people in my community.
I feel my life experience makes me relatable to diverse areas of the community. I am a respectful person and work well with others. I have a journalism background and am an experienced communicator. I also have a science and human factors background, so I apply critical thinking and an analytical approach to my decision making. I am also a very experienced trainer and facilitator, so am a big advocate for education and community feedback and engagement. As an independent candidate, I feel I can represent the community well as I don’t have any party policies. I want to talk to the community, find out about what issues are important to them and then advocate for them.
The pandemic has changed our world, and I want to protect and advocate for the vulnerable in the community and see them thrive in an environmentally and economically safe, secure future. I have been through some financial adversity in my life. I grew up during a recession and learnt many skills and developed a mindset around self-sufficiency, sustainability, and resourcefulness. When the pandemic began, I realised these experiences may be valuable to my community, and I wanted to extend my assistance where I could.
What can you bring to the job?
I have a professional background in leadership, training, auditing and facilitation, so I am a very experienced communicator who will be out in the community having the conversations that need to happen.
I have a long history of volunteering in Australia and overseas for a number of organisations including my honeymoon volunteering in schools in Guatemala, Heads Together, Zoos Victoria, Lions Club Camps and Soup Kitchens. I want to be a councillor not for status or renumeration, but because I care about the people in my community.
I feel my life experience makes me relatable to diverse areas of the community. I am a respectful person and work well with others. I have a journalism background and am an experienced communicator. I also have a science and human factors background, so I apply critical thinking and an analytical approach to my decision making. I am also a very experienced trainer and facilitator, so am a big advocate for education and community feedback and engagement. As an independent candidate, I feel I can represent the community well as I don’t have any party policies. I want to talk to the community, find out about what issues are important to them and then advocate for them.
![]() What hobbies do you have?
Geology, gardening, exploring Victoria, learning about wild flowers, walking, photography, soaking up early morning sunshine. What was the last film you saw? Eat, Pray, Love Do you have a favourite actor? Gael Garcia Bernal |
Do you have a favourite TV show or series?
I don’t really watch TV but when I do I enjoy Home and Away What music do you listen to? 70’s Italian pop music, calm and upbeat songs by various artists, Spanish ballads. What was the best live concert you went to see? Buena Vista Social Club in a bar in Havana, Cuba |