A former council worker who survived a gunman's siege at the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder's administration building more than 30 years ago is set to run for mayor, saying she gained "strength and resilience" from the traumatic incident.
Gloria Moyle, 52, is the second candidate to emerge ahead of October's local government elections, putting her hand up to replace Kalgoorlie-Boulder Mayor John Bowler, who is retiring after two terms.
Deputy Mayor Glenn Wilson announced in April that he would run for the top job after serving eight years on council.
It is unclear if Suzie Williams, the only councillor still serving who contested the 2019 mayoral election, will run again.
Mrs Moyle, who has been chief executive of the Goldfields Women's Health Care Centre for the past 11 years, said her campaign would focus on "being accountable and good strong leadership".
"It's not a sexy topic but the council needs to remember, we are all about rates, rubbish and roads – let's get back to basics," she said.
City's first female mayor?
The daughter of migrant parents – her father is Filipino and her late mother Pakistani – Mrs Moyle moved to the region as a teenager in 1986.
She met her future husband Harry Moyle while working as a rates clerk at the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder but became a single mother after his death in 2004.
Mrs Moyle has had an extensive career in real estate and healthcare.
She currently serves as vice-chair for the Ministerial Advisory Council for Carers, sits on the board of Full Circle Therapies and is an active committee member for the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the St Barbara's Festival.
She became an advocate for safety in the mining industry after her brother Gary Garcia died in 1998 at the Chalice gold mine near Norseman.
If elected, Mrs Moyle would be the first female mayor in the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder's history, following the amalgamation of the Town of Kalgoorlie and Shire of Boulder in 1989.
"I believe it's about leadership," she said, acknowledging the history but downplaying it.
"Yes, I am a woman and I am really proud to be a woman in the Goldfields … it's an exciting time ahead."
The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder has had just four mayors in its 34-year history – Ray Finlayson (1989-1992), Ron Yuryevich (1992-1999; 2003-2016), Paul Robson (1999-2003) and John Bowler (2016-present).
"We've had some amazing leaders and I pay tribute to that, but maybe it is time for change," she said.
"We are a whole different society – the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder has so much potential, it is dynamic and I love it.
"I do feel that change is afoot, and I want to be the change."
Council siege 'life-changing'
Mrs Moyle was working as a rates clerk for the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder in June 1992 when local builder George Karanatsios walked into the council office armed with a shotgun and killed city engineer Hart Kerspian.
He was angry over a delayed building permit and later turned the gun on himself.
"That particular incident was life-changing for the entire City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, and I don't think at that point in time there would have been anyone that wasn't touched by that," she said.
"What I remember the most, other than the tragedy obviously of losing a colleague, and being trapped in the building for 10 hours before we were rescued by the TRG (WA Police's Tactical Response Group), was the amazing camaraderie.
"I remember watching every single colleague and city councillor at that time wrap their arms around everyone, we got together and supported each other … we were close.
"The support of the community was unwavering … and it shouldn't take a tragedy for us to be like that on a daily basis."
Town clerk Peter Strugnell, who tackled the gunman, deputy town clerk Phil Rob and building surveyor Dennis Bassett all received bravery awards.
Mrs Moyle hid under a desk for hours with other colleagues, and said the siege had changed her outlook on life.
"It's taught me, if you go through anything like that or any challenge in life, it's OK to take a step back and regroup, get the support you might need, because you'll definitely come out stronger," she said.
"It was a really poignant time in my life that did give me some really good strength and resilience.
"At 20, that's quite a lot to take in looking back now at 52, it absolutely was the foundation of who I am today."
