Marj Bollinger lives on an 1100 acre property at Molong in the Central West with her husband Frank. Marj became an ‘accidental lobbyist’ 15 years ago when their youngest son survived a fatal car accident involving a semi-trailer. Marj developed many skills through the Highway Safety Action Group and has become well known as a team-playing community activist, who gets results. Sometime after the HSAG had folded, Marj was visiting her GP for a check-up. The doctor asked for help in getting another dentist for the public dental clinic in Orange. Marj did research and found the dental situation for rural areas was appalling. Her passion for making a difference kicked in and she co-founded the Rural Dental Action Group which aims to get a better dental deal for Australian country people. In between the pressures of lobbying and farming, Marj ‘relaxes’ by making wooden items from recycled rustic timber.

What gave you the motivation/inspiration to follow your dream?

I think it is fair to say I fell into my dream through a nightmare following my youngest son’s survival as a front-seat passenger in a car that was hit head-on by a semi-trailer in 1992. Neil was adamant that his two friends who died in the accident should not simply become statistics. We began the Highway Safety Action Group (HSAG) in a bid to get more freight off roads and back onto rail. The Group activities consumed my life for the next 10 years. I was projected into places I thought I would never go and more importantly it helped Neil’s healing process. My motivation as a community lobbyist is fuelled every day when I recognise I am the luckiest mother in the world to still have my youngest son, know his wife and have our grandchildren.

My latest involvement in the Rural Dental Action Group (RDAG) was fuelled by research showing that oral health is fundamental to overall health, well-being and quality of life. Recent estimates suggest that 11 million people are suffering new dental decay each year. The group has worked hard. We now have more dentists in Orange, and the Federal Government recently announced, in the 2007 Budget, funding of $64 million to establish a Rural School of Dentistry. Again I am inspired to see just how ‘people power’ can make a difference.

At what point did you realise that your dream was actually possible and what was it that made you think you could really do it?

I have always believed that nothing is impossible if you want to do it badly enough, and everything in life happens for a reason. There is good in all bad — if you are patient and wait long enough, you will see it. Everyone has a right to stand up for what they believe in. Through the HSAG I discovered I had negotiating skills and could get results. At the time I just wanted to prove people had a right to have a voice. I can now see I totally underestimated what could be achieved through people power. Our ability to really influence change came when the HSAG went to Canberra and came back with a $3 million Government commitment to reconstruct the Great Western Highway at Mt Lambie where Sonia Reece died.

When you were a child, what did you want to ‘be’ when you grew up?

I would have liked to be a teacher like my older brother. However, circumstances and life experiences took me in a different direction and I have absolutely no regrets. My schooling was interrupted due to my Dad’s numerous job changes. We finally settled in Dubbo when he bought a general store and post office. I loved the shop and my involvement was appreciated after school and weekends. Mid-way through my 14th year my grandmother died and my parents needed to go to Broken Hill to attend to her affairs. Mum’s health deteriorated. After missing six weeks of school and knowing my future was at ‘the shop’, I chose not to go back to school but began a diploma in the ‘school of hard knocks’.

How did your childhood influence you in later life?

I was born four months after Dad was called into the army. I only knew him as a photo on the dressing table for four years. This led to a clash of stubborn wills when he came home. Dad won and a strong bond developed between us that exists to this day even though he has been gone for 24 years. Dad was interested in politics and the union systems, which I found hard to understand (and still do!). From a young age we used to debate the issues and from there came my belief that everyone has a right to say and do what they think is right. The early experiences with family, in the shop and at school have provided me with many life skills which I still draw on today.

Who are your role models?

I looked up to Dad, and Ron Cole my 6th class teacher left a strong impression. Mum was also a role model. Her world was our family and home and she was a totally devoted slave to both. Mum showed me how to be morally strong and loyal, but she was always willing to state that my lack of housekeeping skills didn’t come from her! In public life there are many people whom I admire, and to select a couple would be unfair to the others.

What does success mean to you?

Success for me means achieving benefits for the community. To be a part of the achievements of the HSAG and RDAG is a humbling experience and can’t be attributed to a single individual. I am simply a tool, and our wins are the result of people power and uniting for a common cause.

What has been one of the biggest barriers you have had to face, what happened, and how did you overcome it?

There have been a few hurdles we have had to stumble over in our lobbying efforts, but I’m flat out trying to remember them! We got through them at the time then moved on to more important things, so these setbacks have faded into insignificance. On a personal level as a farmer, Frank and I share the same challenges as other rural workers. We deal with climate variability, drought, market forces and adapting to change. These all require resilience, perseverance, management, a lot of good luck (otherwise known as ‘hard work’), and a reasonable degree of stupidity!

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time? What is your vision for the future?

I have absolutely no idea! If you had told me prior to 1992 that I would have done so many things, been involved in so many campaigns and visited so many places, I would have given you directions to the local mental institution. I know people say ‘there goes Marj off on another bright idea’, but I see it differently. Opportunity knocks, picks me up and puts me in the right place at the right time with the right people, to do what needs to be done. I have no idea what journey lies ahead but I know that when it happens, I’ll be happy to take the trip.

What would you like to say to other women who may be just starting out on a ‘Daring to Dream’ journey?

Nothing is impossible if you want to do it badly enough. Believe in what you do. Research your issue, identify a logical achievable solution and simply continue to ask ‘why can’t it be done?’. Then go and do it.