About Drayton Morley

Discover Drayton's vision for Melville's future.

Drayton Morley – Candidate for Palmyra-Melville-Willagee ward (Melville City Council)

In 2018, after overcoming a life‑threatening cancer diagnosis, my wife Cath, our two young children, and I made the life‑changing decision to leave Wollongong, drive across the iconic Nullarbor Plain, and settle permanently in Willagee. It was more than a move — it was a commitment to building a new chapter of our lives, closer to family, in a place where community truly matters.

Born in Melbourne in 1966, I grew up in the eastern suburbs, in an environment shaped by neighbours who looked out for one another, schools that fostered connection, and the joy of belonging to a local community. A passionate Hawthorn Hawks supporter since 1971, I learned early the value of loyalty, resilience, and sticking with your team through triumphs and challenges. Those values underpin my approach to leadership and service.

From the moment we arrived in “The Gee,” we knew we had found our place. Willagee offered the safe streets, friendly faces, and caring networks I had long envisioned for my children — a community where people greet each other and rally together in times of need. That vision was tested in 2019 when, just as we were settling in, I faced the shock of a second cancer diagnosis. The Willagee community did not hesitate; neighbours, school families, and local organisations stepped forward with time, care, and practical help. This outpouring of support carried us through a difficult time and cemented my belief in the power of community. Thankfully, I am now cancer‑free and in remission, with gratitude that drives my commitment to giving back.

That commitment found focus through Caralee Community School, where both my children enrolled. Wanting to strengthen connections between fathers and their children, I became co‑ordinator of The Gee‑Dads, a fathers’ group affiliated with the national Fathering Project. Over six years, I organised activities such as school bush camps, overnight camp‑outs (partly funded by Melville City Council), and fundraisers — from sausage sizzles to raffles — in partnership with local retailers and community leaders. These events built friendships, encouraged parental involvement, and enriched the lives of countless children.

When I began, The Gee‑Dads was small. By the time I handed over in 2025, it had become an integral part of Caralee life, with nearly 100 active fathers and their kids. Along the way, I was shortlisted for the Fathering Project’s Community Father of the Year Award (2023) and honoured with Caralee’s Community Recognition Award (2024). These were not personal accolades alone — they were a testament to what happens when people work together for their community.

Beyond volunteering, my professional life spans 35 years as an actor, producer, and educator. After graduating from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), I performed in theatres across Australia and founded an independent theatre company in Sydney. My career has taken me from the Alps to Paris, where I studied at the Jacques Lecoq Theatre School thanks to a Mike Walsh Fellowship, and to South Africa, where I developed a deep appreciation for cultural diversity and resilience. More recently, I’ve appeared in local productions including Lam, the feature film Runt, and the acclaimed TV drama The Twelve.

Teaching has been another passion. I’ve shared my craft with aspiring performers at WAAPA and Curtin University, specialising in acting and movement. I also work with a locally based communications company to help organisations improve employees’ communication skills through role‑play and performance techniques, fostering empathy, collaboration, and understanding in the workplace. Whether on stage, in a classroom, or in a boardroom, my focus has always been on connection — between people, ideas, and communities.

Today, my commitment to protecting the environment drives my decision to run for Melville City Council. Safeguarding our green spaces is about more than aesthetics — it’s about climate resilience, biodiversity, community wellbeing, and our children’s future. My flagship policy, Save Melville’s Canopy and a new community movement called Gee-Trees I have established, are part of a practical plan to protect mature trees across the Willagee area and the wider council region. It proposes a community‑generated fund to maintain these trees, while ensuring residents aren’t financially disadvantaged by the work required to keep them healthy and safe. The goal is a win‑win — protecting both our urban forest and the hip pockets of ratepayers. Once in place, this model could guide other councils across Perth and WA in reversing canopy loss.

For initiatives like this to succeed, they must be backed by trust, transparency, and genuine engagement. I will use the goodwill built through years of community service to gather support for environmental policies that don’t come at the cost of higher council rates. Melville already has a strong environmental record; with my skills in collaboration, organisation, and advocacy, I aim to help position it as a leader in urban canopy protection and local government innovation.

At the heart of my campaign is a simple philosophy: leadership is service. My life — from surviving cancer twice, to building community programs, to working in collaborative, creative industries — has shown me that progress is achieved when people work together toward shared goals. I have seen how small acts of kindness can ripple outward to create lasting change, and I believe local government is one of the most effective ways to turn that belief into action.

I’m not running to be a politician in the traditional sense. I’m running to be a neighbour, a community builder, and a steward of the environment who happens to sit at the council table. I bring the organisational skills of a producer, the empathy of an educator, the creativity of an artist, and the determination of someone who has fought hard battles and emerged with renewed purpose.

With your support, I will work to protect the green heart of Melville, strengthen ties between residents, and ensure council decisions reflect the values of care, inclusion, and sustainability. Together, we can leave this place better than we found it — for our children, our grandchildren, and all who call Melville home.

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Volunteer Opportunities

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Gallery

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