Localities: Park Avenue, Kawana and Parkhurst.
Background: Past 18 years I was Councillor for the former Rockhampton City Council, various employment included union organizer, community development work for Council of Carers and full-time project officer with Children's Tree Planting Project; Rural Communities Development Officer, Office of Rural Communities. I attended Central Queensland University and graduated as a Bachelor of Arts, with majors in community studies, social welfare, communications and journalism. I returned to my Christian roots in 2004 and am a member of both the South Rockhampton and Park Avenue faith communities. Since 1983 I have developed tree planting as a habit and have been encouraging children to plant trees and prepare now for the environmental issues of the present and future.
Why I am a Councillor:
I became a Councillor as I feel it is in my nature to represent other people in their issues and concerns with the local council. I also ran for Council to adopt a policy of support, encouragement and assistance to Rockhampton children planting trees and becoming part of the earth repair movement. Thus far several hundreds of thousands of trees have been added to the natural environment of Rockhampton and I am nowadays pushing for children to be involved in planting "carbon sinks" - new trees to absorb CO2 and help Council to be carbon neutral.
My Passion:
My passion is with my fellow residents of Park Avenue, Kawana and Parkhurst as we battle to withstand the ever growing number of trucks and other huge heavy vehicles. I was elected on a platform of working towards a solution to the traffic problems in Division 7 and obtaining Council funding to bring this about. This campaign is underway, with seemingly a long way to go. I will not let this go away before every option to the present and growing chaos is considered.
My sometimes passionate contributions to council meetings regarding the road safety issue in Hollingsworth/ Haynes Street and Alexandra Street have started to bring favourable results. I will endeavour to ensure Council continues to come to the realisation of what we locals always know: Division 7 has the most pressing traffic issues of the whole of the Rockhampton Region. I am also actively supporting the concept of multiculturalism with the aim of ensuring the overall community benefits from the arrival and presence of different ethnic cultures; meanwhile the newcomers have a basis of community support, in other words we are making migrants welcome.
Committee Involvement:
I am a member of the Children's Tree Committee, a Life Member of the Park Avenue ALP branch, member of Central Queensland Multi-Cultural Association and have connections with various other community organisations.
Moto: Unity of Labour is the Hope of the World
View the Division 7 locality map.
For the purposes of the 2012 local government elections the Rockhampton Regional Council has been redivided into 10 divisions. Click here for a copy of the new Division 7 locality map. For more information please visit Electoral Commission Queensland. Not sure if this is your Division? Click here for the Division 7 street listing.
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