Announced as the Country Liberal Party candidate for Katherine last October, Hersey believes she has door-knocked every single house in town to hear residents' views.

She says the experience was remarkable, and that residents recognised her efforts in trying to hear from everyone.

"You just have to get out and engage in conversations with people, how else will you ever know what's needed," she said.

"If you're going to be the Member for Katherine you need to know and give time to key stakeholders in the community in order to move forward.

"In my opinion that hasn't happened for a long time.

"Since becoming a candidate I've door-knocked every house in Katherine, and now I'm moving onto doing it a second time.

"I'm passionate about this town and I met the most amazing people while door-knocking, people were kind and they were welcoming.

"We were able to have those discussions about where the town was at, and even if we disagreed they appreciated me being there asking them.

"Nobody's done that before, but if you get out and actually listen to people in this town who knows what wonderful ideas you'll unearth.

"It'll be a tough job for whoever gets into government, but I'm a person who lives here and will listen to the people of Katherine," Ms Hersey said

Ms Hersey is best known in town as the owner of well-regarded and successful hairdressing salon 'The Cutting Edge.'

As a business-owner, mother of three and ardent community advocate, Ms Hersey says she's been fighting for a better Katherine at the grassroots for years.

"I've got three children who were all born here in Katherine and I've always been an advocate for my kids," she said.

"I've been on school councils for years, on the boards of and involved with sporting clubs from rugby and AFL to soccer and BMX.

"I've been on the committees of this town fighting for the future of Katherine's kids.

"The High School must be better and this will be a significant focus of mine.

"$16 million has been spent in Gunner's electorate on the high school there, and meanwhile here we need a proper science lab still, there aren't even any lockers.

"I've lived here for a long time and I know the people here and the issues we face.

"There are great teachers at school but it's saddled with an immense amount of historical debt.

"That's the school our children go to and it has to improve because leadership is about everyone in the community," Ms Hersey said.

It is in this determination to fight for Katherine which Ms Hersey believes differentiates her from past leadership and the other candidates.

"I lobbied for the museum and we're pleased to now be able to offer funding should we gain power.

"They won't have to continuously apply for funding again and again.

"Unfortunately in Katherine we miss out time and time again.

"In my opinion we haven't had the representation we deserve in Katherine over the last four years.

"That won't happen with me, I'm happy to lobby hard and say we need this here," Ms Hersey said.

Ms Hersey says declarations of the town's demise are overstated.

"As the owner of a grassroots business I'm accustomed to people, I'm used to managing staff and making an organisation succeed.

"We're still in a good position here, people are concerned about the shops closing and I hear that.

"But as I always say to people, if you were to open a hairdressing salon in the main street and within three months it isn't succeeding then that's on you. We're in okay shape but we can do better," Ms Hersey said.

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