Ms Thornton is already slated to give evidence to the Disability Royal Commission, based on her own experiences of living with a disability and the discrimination she has been subject to during that time.
Now she’s also hoping to make a broader difference locally, announcing her candidacy for the upcoming Berrigan Shire Council elections.
She intends to offer her experience in the public sector, which spans more than a decade, to the council.
After serving stints in Wagga Wagga, Lightning Ridge and Dubbo early in her life, Ms Thornton settled down in Cobram with her two children.
She later moved to Berrigan after the death of her parents.
‘‘I wanted to instil in my children a respect for where they live and the land they live on,’’ she said.
Ms Thornton said the community embraced them, and now she wants to give back.
‘‘Last week I broke my foot. Before I even told anyone, people were turning up with meals.
‘‘To hang my hat in Berrigan, I am so blessed.’’
Since coming to the Southern Riverina, Ms Thornton has worked to give back to the community that she calls her family.
She has taught life skills to students who were unable to continue their high school education, including how to apply for a licence, a job and where to seek mental health advice.
Whilst working at a tourism centre she assisted ‘‘new settlers’’ from Iraq, Syria and Jordan, helping them to apply for citizenships and learn the English language.
Her experience in aged care has given her an appreciation for the elderly, or in Ms Thornton’s words, ‘‘society’s elite’’.
‘‘We need to tap into that knowledge, and council is paramount in that wheel of recovery,’’ she said.
As for her specific platform as a councillor, Ms Thornton said she would be guided by the community.
‘‘I want people to tell me what they want. I would be privileged to be their voice.’’
Ms Thornton has led a difficult life. She suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, which she describes as an ‘‘invisible disability’’.
‘‘Sure, I might look fine. But my leg might not be working, and today I can’t see out of my left eye.
‘‘I have seen a lot in my life, and I have been discriminated against.
‘‘People have said awful things to me, and that’s why I applied to give evidence in the Disability Royal Commission.’’
Ms Thornton says much of the discrimination she has experienced has come from the ‘‘ignorance’’ of government departments that ‘‘don’t know anything about me or my condition’’, and are difficult to navigate.
Ms Thornton encourages others in the region who have a disability to also make a submission to the Disability Royal Commission.
For those unable to submit their own, Ms Thornton said she is happy to represent their concerns.
‘‘It would be my honour to be your ambassador to the commission, and to tell your stories,’’ she said.
Anyone wishing to speak to Ms Thornton about the Disability Royal Commission, or regarding Berrigan Shire issues, is invited to email thorntonmichelle84@gmail.com.
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