Supervisor basks in Census role

By Ed Merrison
AT 77 years of age, Warburton resident John Anner may be one of the oldest area supervisors for the Census, but he is also one of the fittest.
A keen walker, Mr Anner moved to Warburton 13 years ago specifically for the bushwalking opportunities the area offers.
Now he is set to traverse the countryside for the Census of Population and Housing being held today.
“Working on the Census is a great way to get to know the local area. Just seeing the different ways that people live is really interesting,” he said.
During the last Census, Mr Anner was a collector for an area around East Warburton and another at Launching Place.
This time he is working as an area supervisor, heading up a team of 10 people in the Upper Yarra region.
Mr Anner said working outside and talking to and meeting a lot of people in the 2001 Census was a rewarding experience.
“I got to know my local area – the people, their homes, their living conditions, the environment – better than ever before. And how friendly and cooperative most people are,” he said.
“I guess, most of all, being a collector made me feel I was doing something worthwhile, something of benefit to the community, the whole country.”
The experience led him to snap up this latest opportunity as an area supervisor.
Mr Anner’s role will involve a little less walking and more time behind the wheel than in 2001, but he is proud to be part of an enormous project.
In the Shire of Yarra Ranges alone, 259 collectors will be employed to ensure an accurate count, with over 6200 collectors across Victoria.
Information from the 2006 Census will allow the Australian Bureau of Statistics to build a statistical picture of Australia, which will aid the Government and private sector, as well as community groups.
Data from the count will assist in planning for infrastructure in areas such as industry, transport, housing, schools, hospitals, retail outlets, entertainment facilities, aged care and other social services.
On top of this, grants to state and local governments are based on populations calculated from Census results.
All this adds up to a persuasive case for getting involved, and the insight it gives into shire life is another major selling point for Mr Anner.
“You get to see how the other half lives. It’s interesting to get out to rural areas and see what it’s like.
“You do a lot of walking and a lot of driving and sometimes there’s a great distance between dwellings. It’s hard to find some houses in the bush – sometimes you have to really search,” he said.
Despite the size of the task, Mr Anner had faith in his dedicated team and wished to remind the community to do their bit.
“So look out for the Census collectors with their big yellow satchels. And – most importantly – don’t forget to fill in your forms on Census night,” he said.