Peak Hill woman Terri Ann Baxter runs for the seat of Orange

"The family and I were having a picnic day out and we actually saw a fellow eating out of the garbage bins," she said.

"Seeing it first hand was a big wake up call for me and the kids said 'mum does it really have to be like this? What can we do?'

"I am in a position where I can step up, I had a choice - run for council or run for state and I decided to run for state because I can help more on a bigger scale."

Born in Sydney, moved to the Central West 14 years ago.

She and her family now live in Peak Hill after spending 13 years in the Tullamore and Trundle area. 

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Homelessness is one of the issues she is passionate about. 

"There are about 380 people couch surfing here in Parkes and there are between 700 to 900 people who are on and off the streets all the time, and that is just here in town," she said.

"The poverty in the Orange Electorate has gone unnoticed - or it’s been noticed but not much has been done about it because I don’t think they know how to handle it.

"Spending $25 million on a stadium in Orange? I could sure as hell spend that money better.

"I could certainly house a lot of people for that and I could put a lot of food in their bellies."

Another issue Terri Ann wants to tackle is water.

"So many have had to truck in water during this drought or just go without," she said.

"It makes my blood boil seeing water getting wasted when there are so many people virtually committing suicide over it. I’ve got some ideas about getting water out into isolated areas."

"I'll be addressing everything from water, housing, poverty, education, domestic violence, man made drugs and the welfare system in rural areas.

"I’m not going to make any promises but I will do what I can in the interest of the electorate and I am a bit of a fighter when it comes down to it.

"I don’t quit until I get a good result, I love a challenge."

Terri Ann is holding a meet and greet morning tea at the Coachman Hotel on Saturday, February 16 at 10.30am where she will reveal in more detail the issues she will be tackling.

You can connect with her on her Facebook page Terri Ann Baxter - Candidate.