She will be running against the deputy premier and leader of the NSW Nationals, Andrew Stoner.

Lorraine is best known locally for her involvement with the Urunga Mylestom Chamber of Commerce, serving as vice president and coordinator of both Toast Urunga Dinner Dance and Art Urunga.

She was also a previous president of Coffs Coast Business Women’s Network, a board member of the Mid North Coast Regional Tourism organisation and an active member of Business and Professional Women (BPW) Coffs Harbour.

Along with her husband Jack, the Gordon family (including three sons) are primarily cattle farmers and tourism operators, running businesses up in the mountains near Dorrigo and Ebor.

For the past seven years, Lorraine has been running the Yaraandoo Respite Retreats for carers from the Mid North Coast, New England and the Hunter.

Awarded the ABC NSW Rural Woman of the Year in 1994 for the development of beef cattle and tourism properties in Northern NSW, Lorraine established the largest domestic hydropower system in Australia. She has also made a major contribution to the cattle industry through initiating the highly successful ‘Ebor Beef’ – a vertically integrated, branded, grass-fed cattle co-operative, which is still operating some 20 years later.

Lorraine is a fellow of the prestigious Australian Rural Leadership Program, and has worked passionately over the years for agriculture, tourism and economic development and more recently youth at risk and mental health through the Carer’s Respite Program run out of ‘Yaraandoo’.

Lorraine has been selected to represent industries in this region on numerous government appointed boards and committees, and has successfully lobbied for change and improvement.

She has had a long involvement with both state and federal government departments through tourism and health related projects and this has included writing best-practice tourism publications for three state governments.

As a volunteer, Lorraine is currently working with the State Government to clean up an old contaminated tailings site in Urunga - a legacy from mining activities dating back to the 1960s.

When asked why she had accepted the offer to run for pre-selection against Andrew Stoner, Lorraine said it was because “of her passion and love for this region; my frustration at the lack of progress in addressing the issues within it and a burning desire to make a difference.”

“I want to see better outcomes for regional NSW.

“Many people in this electorate feel they have been forgotten by Macquarie Street, they want change, and a fresh voice to speak on their behalf,” she said.

The Nationals Oxley pre-selection is to be held on May 17.