Up Close and Personal with James Harling, Candidate for Division 4, Victoria Point.

 I was born in Melbourne in 1954 and was the youngest of five children. At 18 months due to a family breakup, I was given to the care of St Joseph’s Orphanage. At 4 ½ years was adopted to a wonderful loving parents (now deceased) who changed my life forever.

I grew up in Elwood and like most kids spent many hours at the local beach and kicking the footy around the park. I was schooled firstly by the nuns at the local primary school until Grade 4 then by the Christian Brothers for the next eight years.

James has been involved in community service since he was 15.

At aged 15 years, I co-founded a local youth club which grew from a small group of 6 to100 over the following two years. I have very fond memories of playing pool, indoor volleyball, table tennis and organising concerts. 

Of course fundraising was tougher in those days and we used to have to sell tons of raffle tickets and collected thousands of used beer bottles!

After the youth club, as the guys got older, we needed to find something else to do, so I co-founded the Elwood Cricket Club in 1972. The club then expanded into football and hockey teams and is still running today 44 years later.





Since founding the youth club, I have been involved in many local charities, clubs, organisations and fundraising activities. These have ranged from Scouts to managing teams of fellow workers to work in food recovery kitchens.

As for my career, I spent some 40 years in banking, beginning in1972 when I started my working career with ANZ bank.  

I spent 25 years there,  progressing through many different positions and received my first managerial appointment at age 23, which was a bit of a rarity at that time I think.   

After finishing at ANZ I was asked to join the NAB and worked there in Senior Management roles for the next 15 years.  I was fortunate to travel for work extensively across Australia and also to the UK and USA. I spent two years working in New Zealand and successfully implemented a major technology project.

I was first married in 1977 and raised three children who are now aged between 33 and 40 years. Oh my gosh where did all those years go - and four grandchildren as well!

When that marriage ended in 1998, I met my wonderfully supportive wife, Mandi, and we are still happily married, thank heavens!

When we met I was blessed to “inherit” four step children aged between 18 months and 6 years. In 2002, we had a child together, who became the link between the families.  For those by now who have lost count, that’s eight between us!  

Mandi and I moved to Victoria Point in 2011.  We still have three children living with us not to mention a menagerie of animals including three long-haired Chihuahuas, two cats and a pair of lovebirds.  

James offers 40 years in banking.

In 1982 I had a life-changing event when I was involved in a scooter accident coming home late from a second job. As a result, I spent six weeks in care facility, and over the next four years had three total knee reconstructions.

By May 2015 the impacts of this accident had well and truly set in.  

It was during the rehab time I decided that I needed to get going again mentally and physically.  So I undertook four months study to achieve my Real Estate Agent's Licence. 

Subsequently I set up my business, Reddy Set Sold,  as a way of providing a small group of clients with a personalised and lower cost real estate service.

I decided to run as a candidate for Division 4 because I felt I could be a fresh and positive change for Victoria Point.

With 40 yeas' corporate business experience, I believe I have the credentials and proven track record to make me a strong and effective representative. 

I have always been results-driven and make decisions based on common sense, detailed analysis and sound judgement.  

If elected, I will work hard to ensure the lifestyle, community, economy and environment of our beautiful City is not only maintained but enriched for future generations.