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A message to 16 and 17 year old voters: What might not seem important now, soon will be!

With just two days to go until the Highland Council election, many people will be weighing up their options over who to vote for, some will have already chosen through postal votes, while others may be completely disengaged or even unaware that the process is taking place.

As a 16 or 17-year old person voting for the first time, there are probably umpteen things that take greater priority over voting in the local authority election, whether it be finding a flat to move into with your friends, planning a summer holiday, or simply getting through your exams with your nerves still intact!

The truth is, though, what might not appear important now, soon will be, that’s why it is so crucial you vote, to have a say in the things that will quickly become important.

If you are looking to rent or buy your first house, how long might you have to wait for an affordable property to become available or for one to be built in your area?

If you have plans to leave school and go on to set-up your own business in the Highlands, how much of an impact will sub-standard broadband and poor connectivity have on this?

If you are living in a rural area and you require dental treatment or a hospital appointment, how far will you have to travel if the local health services are being reduced or under threat of complete closure?

Most councillors are hard-working people with the best interests of their communities at heart but it is still vitally important that their work is scrutinised and they are held to account for the decisions they make.

Whoever is elected come Friday, will be our representatives for the next five years, so while affordable housing, jobs, or health services might not be the first thing on your mind at 16, the chances are these issues will become more important to your everyday life as a 21 or 22 year-old.

When it comes to deciding whether or not you should vote on Thursday, just remember what doesn’t seem important now, soon will be. Your vote and voice are as important as everyone else’s.

Zosia Fraser is standing as an independent candidate in the Inverness Millburn Ward in this year’s Highland Council election.

For more information on Zosia, you can follow her on Twitter and Facebook

A full list of candidates can be found here: http://www.highland.gov.uk/downloads/file/17674/hc_notice_of_poll_-_29_march_2017pdf

For information about the STV voting system click below: http://theskyetimes.co.uk/index.php/1692-voting-and-how-it-works

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A great honour

On 29 March, I received the Gold Cross of Merit for my services to the Polish and Scottish communities in the Highlands from the President of Poland. It was a great honour to receive it. It was presented by the Polish Ambassador Mr Arkady Rzegocki in the company of the Polish Minister of Education Ms.Anna Zalewska and the Consul-General Mr Dariusz Adler in Edinburgh.

Zosia Fraser with the Consul-General Mr Dariusz Adler

I was praised for my efforts in helping Polish nationals who had come here to settle in their new country. As I’ve chaired the Inverness Polish Association for 10 years and run the Polish Saturday School for the last 9, there aren’t many problems that I haven’t come across. I m delighted to report, that with the support of my committee we have helped over 2,000 people, and I’m happy to continue to help wherever I can.

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A bit about me and why I am standing to become a councillor

Background - I was born in London, and I am of Polish origin. My father was an officer in the Polish Army fighting with the Allied Forces, while my mother worked for the British Council in Paris, and drove ambulances during the war.


Moving to Scotland - I was desperate to get away and do my own thing and I decided to go to Strathclyde University after reading a write-up in a newspaper which said that Glasgow was a beautiful city on the banks of a beautiful river, that was enough to persuade me to make the move.


Education and career - I studied biology and chemistry at Strathclyde University but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do once I had graduated. I decided to go to teacher training college and ended up going wherever there were jobs. I taught at a school in Govan to begin with, which provided me with the best training possible as the children weren’t shy about giving the teachers a hard time, which in turn helped me learn very quickly how to hold my own in a difficult classroom environment. I took early retirement after teaching for 30 years across Glasgow and in the Highlands but I am now back working in Inverness as a supply teacher in biology.


Inverness - The first time I came to Inverness was for a wedding and I fell in love with the place. I remember visiting the Flora MacDonald statue and at that moment I think I lost my heart to the city, it’s the most beautiful place, I love Inverness to bits. After that, I decided to move here and I have enjoyed many great years living and working here since.

Zosia Fraser at the Language Show Live Scotland 2017 - Promoting linguistic links between Scotland and Poland.

Community involvement - As a member of the Ballifeary Community Council for the last five years, I have helped to make decisions on the funding of community projects. I have also played a part in helping Polish people integrate into communities within the Highlands through my work as co-founder and chairwoman of the Inverness Polish Association.


My desire to become a councillor  - Working with people and communities has been a common thread through most of what I have done in my life, and I believe that becoming a councillor would enable me to do that on a much greater scale, whether it be in addressing a slight concern that is troubling one person or tackling a big issue that affects many people.