Janet Mays

Early Years

Janet was born in Melbourne and is the third of five children born to Pat & Phil Fury. Janet’s parents moved to Canberra in the late 1960s where she grew up and completed her formal education.

From an early age, Janet’s parents taught her about community service through their fundraising efforts for local schools, the neighbourhood church and the fledging Belconnen community. Janet learnt the values of giving and was always encouraged to “stand up for what you believe in”.

In her teens, Janet was active in both her local and school communities, becoming the youngest committee member of a community arts organisation, playing the guitar at her church and running a job exchange for college students who were seeking part time employment to supplement their studies.

On leaving school, Janet undertook university studies to become a teacher. She also ran her own coffee shop and completed a Retail Management Certificate. In the mid eighties, Janet became the youngest franchisee within the Budget Rent a Car organisation. Janet’s involvement in this business, whilst still only in her early twenties, taught her about the rigours of business life and how to manage both the good times and the bad.

Business Career

The collapse of the Budget organisation in the early nineties saw the beginning of a 17-year stint for Janet within the Australian fleet management industry. As a pioneer in a traditionally male oriented workplace, Janet has held a number of senior roles in blue chip corporates. Her tenacity and commitment to achieving first class outcomes have been the hallmarks of her business life.

Remembering the values of compassion and service that her parents taught her, Janet has contributed to her community whenever the demands of her work life have permitted. A former President of SWAP (Salespeople with a Purpose), a champion of Youth SWAP and a generous donor to many charities and organisations, Janet remains committed to “giving back” to her community.

Blue Mountains Resident

A permanent resident of the Blue Mountains, Janet combines a Sydney based job with a strong interest and involvement in her local community. She is a passionate advocate for sensible development, preservation of the environment and the retention of village life.

Janet believes that in order to truly improve the quality of life for people in our community, it will take change at a local level, in our laws and in our politics. Janet is a firm believer in uniting people to achieve outcomes that benefit the community and it is for this reason that she is entering the 2008 Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) race.

A commitment to transparency in Government, real and effective community consultation and ensuring the fair and equal treatment of all people, are the driving forces behind Janet’s campaign.

When recently asked why the BMCC and why now, Janet’s reply was simple. “It’s time to bring people together; to restore our sense of common purpose and mutual responsibility to one another and to steer our communities on a better course”.