October 9, 2017
After recent changes to the State Electorate boundaries and the realignment of parts of the Gympie and South Burnett regions into the Nanango Electorate, I would like to offer a huge thank you to all the community groups, businesses and individuals who have offered me such a warm welcome as I’ve travelled throughout the area.
I really enjoyed my first visit to St Joseph’s School in Murgon for their annual fete.
Thanks to Principal Tracey Gerrard, the P&C, all helpers and students for making me so welcome.
It was also a privilege to be a part of two of Wondai’s biggest events – the Wondai Spring Garden Expo and the Centenary celebrations for the Wondai Show. Well done to all the volunteers who work so hard to make these events so popular.
And in Kilkivan, it was a proud moment to be involved in the official opening of the full length of the Kilkivan-Kingaroy Rail Trail.
This was a project funded by our former LNP Government under the Royalties for our Regions program, and it’s great to see this investment delivering real benefits for our region.
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Shadow Minister For Child Safety In Kingaroy
Last month I was pleased to host a visit by Ros Bates, the Shadow Minister for Communities, Child Safety, Prevention of Domestic Violence, Disability Services and Seniors.
Ros visited service providers in Kingaroy to hear first-hand how issues such as domestic violence, child safety and disability are affecting our community.
The visit came in the wake of Labor’s release, months late, of three reviews into the Child Safety, Foster Care and Blue Card systems.
Following the tragic deaths of Mason Jett Lee, Tialeigh Palmer, Maddilyn-Rose Stokes and other Queensland children in care, Queenslanders deserve to know what’s going wrong in our child safety system.
Instead, Labor sits on these reports for months and then release three in one day to avoid proper scrutiny of the life and death issues they have investigated.
It was excellent to have Ros here to discuss this with the locals who work at the coalface.
Every second counts when kids in abusive homes or foster care are in danger and this government just keeps on reviewing rather than doing.
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Benarkin Car Rally
Hundreds of competitors took part in the final round of the P3 Solutions 2017 Queensland Rally Championship held in Benarkin on September 16.
The Rally has been held at Benarkin for many years now, and it’s a great event.
Not only does it people to our region, but the Benarkin State School P&C benefit by doing the catering for it.
This year the organisers invited me to be a part of the Rally and it was lots of fun to be the “flag girl” as the competitors set off.
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Round 3 Uncovers More Local Heroes
Congratulations to the groups and individuals who have received one of my Local Hero Grants – the Kingaroy SES, the Crows Nest Girls Brigade, Luke Beutel of Blackbutt and Amanda Mills of Kilcoy.
The grants assist both Luke and Amanda to attend sporting events last month.
The Kingaroy SES will be using their grant to purchase a new banner, and the Crows Nest Girls Brigade are buying new bucket hats.
These are small, but meaningful grants designed to recognise and reward our quiet achievers.
Round 4 closes on November 30.
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Busy Month For Our Communities
How good was the Blackbutt Avocado Festival! The weather was fantastic and it drew a really great crowd that – I’m sure – was bigger than last year.
Well done to the organising committee for putting together a sensational community event.
And I can say the same to Liz Caffery and the community of Nanango, who are to be commended for the Centenary celebrations organised for the 100th anniversary of the Our Lady Help of Christians Church last month.
Thank-you for inviting me to be a part of this historic occasion and for taking the time to ensure special milestones like these are remembered.
Finally, I was thrilled to attend the South Burnett Rugby League Presentation Dinner in Wondai recently and celebrate the end of another great season.
It was a privilege to sponsor and present the trophy for South Burnett Senior Player of the Year to Keith Gadd Jnr.
[Photos: Nanango Electorate Office and southburnett.com.au]
