Who is Bill Sykes?

Dr Bill Sykes became the Member for Benalla in November 2002 after a career as a veterinarian and businessman. Bill has lived and worked in the northeast of Victoria for over 30 years. He is married to Sally. Bill was also a VFL footballer, playing over 50 games of football for Fitzroy, and later coaching Shepparton, Benalla and Benalla & District Junior Football teams.

Bill and Sally have raised two girls and a boy who are all successfully making their way in the world pursuing their own careers. Bill and Sally also run a beef cattle and sheep property just out of Benalla.  Sally is also a golf and bridge player of some renown.

Together, the Sykes have been involved in a wide range of community activities including school councils, youth groups, sporting clubs, Landcare, fire brigade and the Victorian Farmers Federation. Bill was also instrumental in the establishment of the Benalla Trust Foundation, a trust to assist local people in times of crisis, and the Benalla Young Sportspersons Trust, a trust that assists promising young athletes to compete in interstate and overseas competitions.

This knowledge, combined with Bill’s experience in managing national and international projects and Bill’s demonstrated ability to get things done, make him an ideal person to represent the people in the Electorate of Benalla.

The values of Bill Sykes:

Above all else, Bill Sykes values personal and professional integrity and the family unit.

Bill has a great respect for the older generation to whom he believes we owe so much, and for people of different cultural backgrounds from whom we can learn so much.

Rural communities are the strength of our society, according to Bill, and he also places great value on young people participating in team sports to develop self-esteem, a responsibility for their own actions and a commitment to their team mates and clubs.

A fundamental belief of Bill’s is the right ‘to have a go’, but inherent in that right is a responsibility to the wider community and to the environment.

Bill has worked hard to learn about the many issues affecting families and communities in the Benalla Electorate.