November 10, 2014
Benarkin resident and ALP candidate for the State seat of Nanango, Liz Hollens-Riley, knows she has a big task ahead of her to unseat the LNP at the next election, but she’s confident it can be done.
“Labor has never held this seat but I think we are in the strongest position ever,” she told southburnett.com.au
“I think there is going to be a big swing at this election.”
The date for the next State Election hasn’t been set, but many people – including Ms Hollens-Riley – expect March to be the target.
“The latest date that (Campbell Newman) can call it is June 20,” she said.
Ms Hollens-Riley has lived at Benarkin for the past eight years and is the first ALP candidate for Nanango who has actually resided in the South Burnett for many elections.
She lives with her twin sister Margaret and two dogs, Marcus and Sam, which she says are “gorgeous”.
Ms Hollens-Riley was born in England.
He father worked for the British Foreign Office so she went to school in Nigeria while he was based there.
The family left Nigeria when the Biafran civil war broke out.
“We were on one of the last boats to get out,” she said.
She finished her education at a boarding school in England and then began an apprenticeship in industrial photography.
Ms Hollens-Riley came to Sydney in the the 1970s and eventually moved to the Lockyer Valley. She settled on a 40 acre property which allowed her to enjoy her passion for horses.
For many years she worked in the printing industry and saw many changes in technology over the years.
After moving to Blackbutt, she worked as a safety officer in the mining industry, including five years at Meandu Mine.
She also has first hand experience as a fly-in fly-out worker, working in West Australian mines.
“I resigned from that in February when it was suggested that I might get pre-selected,” she said.
Ms Hollens-Riley said she had been interested in politics for a long time and also liked to be involved in local groups and associations.
She is a member of the Blackbutt Lions Club, is on the organising committee for the Blackbutt Christmas Carnival and is secretary of the Blackbutt Community Council.
Dipping her toe into local council issues, she said she supported the leasing of the Blackbutt Hall land for a new supermarket, but not selling.
“So long as the hall is put where the community wants it and it is not demolished,” she said.
“And so long as the fascia of the new building fits with the townscape. We don’t want a concrete box.
“I will support anything that will improve Blackbutt.”
She nominated transport and an ageing population as the biggest problems the Nanango electorate faced.
“Why can’t we have a public transport system?” she asked.
