Joe Helper

Joe Helper was born in Germany in 1959. Joe and his family migrated to Australia in 1971 and settled in Melbourne. Over ten years ago, Joe and Julie moved to Yandoit to build a home on a small rural property. Joe Helper started his working life as a Motor Mechanic. Since leaving his trade, Joe has worked for a number of State and Federal Members of Parliament, as well as working for the State Public Service. In the 1993 and 1996 Federal Elections, Joe Helper contested the Federal seat of Bendigo for the Australian Labor Party. This seat partially overlaps the State electorate of Ripon.
In 1996, Joe Helper returned to his trade when he became the proprietor of Newstead Motors. In October 1999, he was elected to State Parliament as the ALP Member for Ripon.
Joe and Julie have two children, Megan and Patrick. At the 2002 State election, Joe Helper was returned with an increased majority. Building on his interest in regional issues, Joe was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development by the Premier. Following the State election in 2006, Joe was appointed as Minister for Agriculture. In August 2007, he was also appointed Minister for Small Business.