Dr. Katrina Rainsford was born in Adelaide. Her father had a goal of Farming by Forty and moved to Koijak in Western Victoria. The youngest of four, Katrina attended Apsley Primary School, Edenhope High School and graduated from Melbourne University in 1978 and has been a country vet for the past 43 years. Married to local auto electrician Brian Ball since 1984, Kate and Brian began their own family farm near Apsley, raising four children whilst developing their farm and operating a local three clinic veterinary business and Balls Auto based in Naracoorte. Awarded the Telstra Western Victorian Rural Woman of the Year in 1995, designed to encourage women to take leadership roles, Katrina was elected to West Wimmera Council inaugural Council for one term serving from 1997 to 2000.
The Ball family moved to the Southern Grampians in 2001 attracted by Hamilton's quality secondary education. Now producing fine wool, prime lambs and beef across Southern Grampians and Glenelg Shires, Katrina has served as a Southern Grampians Shire Councillor since 2004 being elected six times, now being the longest serving Southern Grampians Shire Councillor.
Katrina has served on numerous council committees, has made way for new councillors to take over delegations and is focusing this council term on improved customer service, greater transparency, increased community empowerment through advisory committees and economic development campaigning for better roads, return of passenger rail to Western Victoria, local meat processing and equitable support and planning for all township and Hamilton community facilities.
Roles. Green Triangle Action Group Delegate
Rail Freight Alliance Delegate
Rural Councils Victoria Delegate