MY BACKGROUND
I was born and raised in this region and am proud to call myself a local. I've watched our area grow and develop for over 40 years but there's a lot of room for a smarter thinking Council.
My background is diverse, driven by a strong sense of family and community. I've been involved in business, farming, charities and communitiy bodies and dabbled in small scale development. I truly appreciate the diversity the Fraser Coast region is built on.
I grew up in Bauple and was raised on a pineapple, cane and cattle farm then moved to Maryborough for my high school and sporting years. I completed an apprenticeship in Boilermaking at Walkers Ltd in Maryborough and then was promoted to the drawing office. From that experience I established my own building design business and ran it successfully for 21 years and am now working in the Coal Mining Industry as a Project Coordinator.
FAMILY: I have been married to my wife Sonya for 27 years and we have 2 great children. During these years we've always lived in the footprint of Division 8 as it now stands. After finishing their schooling, my children needed to leave the area for work and this concerns me both as a parent and a resident. Local industry development must be tackled within local government and in conjunction with lobbying the state government. Local industry = local skilled workforce = local employment.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: For 21 years I owned and operated my own local Building and Hydraulics Design business. As I've always had ties to the land, I have also been a primary producer and farmer and in 2000 my wife and I decided to dabble in small scale property development by subdividing a section of our property.
Five years ago I needed to look beyond the local area for work and since then have been a drive in/drive out Project Coordinator at Peak Downs Mine. Changing with the times and my hard work approach to life has given me a diverse professional background. I'd like to use this experience to represent Division 8.
COMMUNITY: Being involved in community projects, charities and clubs has always been a big part of my life in the greater Wide Bay area. I've worked as a volunteer Project Manager for Riding for the Disabled and been President, Secretary and Treasurer, public speaking coordinator/director and executive member of many local organisations. Some include Hervey Bay Touch Football Association, Burrum District Active Riders, Building Designers Association of Qld, Maryborough Campdraft and Team Penning Club and the Hervey Bay Rodeo Committee. For over 15 years Apex has also been a significant part of my community work and in 2008-2010 I was the District Governor for Wide Bay.
I've been honoured to receive recognition of my service to the community. In 2003 I was Hervey Bay's Citizen of the Year, received a Centenary of Federation Medal awarded by the Governor or Queensland in 2001, and life membership of Apex in 2010.
