The new Southern Queensland Country regional tourism organisation – which covers the South Burnett as well as Toowoomba, the Western Downs and the Southern Downs – held its inaugural Annual General Meeting in Toowoomba last Thursday.
CEO Mary-Clare Power said there was a “terrific turnout” of industry and local government partners as the new board members were announced.
There are two South Burnett representatives on the Board: Shannon Scott (TASTE South Burnett) and Mayor Wayne Kratzmann (South Burnett Regional Council).
“It was particularly pleasing to have such interest from our industry partners wanting to become involved with the new board – nine nominations for four positions,” Ms Power said.
“I would sincerely like to thank all nine nominees for putting up their hands this year and hope that those who weren’t successful this time round consider nominating again in the future.”
The new board members are:
- Dr Jane Summers (skills based) – Chair
- Trudy Grant (industry) – Vice Chair
- James Haig (industry) – Secretary
- Michelle Clarke (skills based)
- Gary Gardener (skills based)
- Steve Burns (industry)
- Shannon Scott (industry)
- Cr Wayne Kratzmann – South Burnett Regional Council
- Cr Neil Meiklejohn – Southern Downs Regional Council
- Cr Tony Brame – Western Downs Regional Council
- Cr David McMahon – representing Goondiwindi and Maranoa Regional Council and Balonne Shire Council.
Toowoomba Regional Council has not yet confirmed their representative.
“We recently completed a round of Tourism Advisory Group meetings throughout the whole region and many thanks to those who attended,” Ms Power said.
“Our Tourism Queensland partners joined us on the road trip throughout the region and we all enjoyed the conversations had around the ‘hero experiences’ and ‘product clustering’.
“TQ will now take on board all of the feedback and come back to us with an update on how this project has progressed.
“This update is slated to happen at the RACQ Southern Queensland Tourism Industry Conference on November 13.”
