March 27, 2020
Who will be leading the South Burnett on Monday? It’s all up to you!
There are four candidates (see below) sparring to take the mayoralty at Saturday’s Council election.
Chances are, though, we won’t know the results on Monday – unless it’s a landslide result – as there are thousands of postal votes that will have to be counted and the ECQ will still be counting them up to 10 days after the poll closes.
Voting is optional preferential, ie. you can just number one box, or number all on the ballot paper.
The Electoral Commission of Queensland says a record number of voters have voted early right across the State.
More than 7000 residents have already cast their votes in the South Burnett.
Hundreds more have applied for postal votes and many have opted for phone voting.
There is still time to vote by phone if you are in isolation due to COVID-19: to register for telephone voting, phone 1300-912-782 and select Option 1.
The service is open to voters with an impairment, disability or a low level of literacy, or those advised by a medical practitioner to remain in isolation.
The call centre will be open from 8:00am to noon on Saturday – but beware, there has been unprecedented demand for the service and the ECQ has asked that callers not jeopardise the availability of it for those who most need it.
If you haven’t already cast a pre-poll or a phone vote, you must attend a polling booth on Saturday (see list below) to vote.
Polling booths will be open from 8:00am to 6:00pm.
Remember, voting IS compulsory and people who deliberately flout the law risk being fined.
“Vulnerable people” (ie. those aged 60 and over) are being encouraged by the ECQ to vote between 9:00am and 11:00am.
All other voters are being asked to vote outside these hours.
Everyone at the polling booths should practice social distancing by keeping a minimum of 1.5 metres apart and avoid touching one another.
Voters have also been encouraged to BYO pen or pencil with them to vote, and get in and out of the polling centre as quickly as possible.
Don’t hang around to socialise or have a chat.
- Editorial: Be Careful What You Wish For
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South Burnett
South Burnett voters have a choice of four candidates for Mayor.
There are also two candidates standing in each of Divisions 3, 4, 5 and 6.
There will be no councillor elections in Division 1 (Nanango) and Division 2 (Blackbutt and Maidenwell) after incumbents Cr Roz Frohloff and Cr Gavin Jones were re-elected unopposed – but voters in these Divisions must still turn out to vote for Mayor.
Mayoral Candidates (in ballot paper order):
- Keith Campbell – The former CEO of Bean Growers Australia Ltd was elected to Kingaroy Shire Council in 1999. He was then elected to the South Burnett Regional Council in 2008 and served as Deputy Mayor until 2012, before taking over the role of Mayor in 2016.
- Abigail Andersson – A Kingaroy businesswoman with extensive community links; Abigail has been – and continues to be involved with – local theatre groups; community festivals such as BaconFest; and many others. Abigail also volunteers with a rural fire brigade.
- Brett Otto – An accountant who has run a private practice for the past 20 years; also the founder and CEO of the Melanoma Foundation, which raises funds for melanoma research; holds a degree in accounting.
- Toni Ralph – A former Kingaroy businesswoman who now runs a cattle property at Durong; and a resident of the region for more than 20 years. Toni holds a degree in business and has been studying rural and regional economics for the past year.
The candidates for Division 3 (ie southern Kingaroy) are:
- Rhonda Trivett – a well-known disability advocate who formed the South Burnett Peace Of Mind group to provide assistance to people suffering disadvantage.
- Danita Potter – elected as Division 3 councillor in 2012, and has chaired the Community, Arts, Tourism and Health Services portfolios since then.
The candidates for Division 4 (ie northern Kingaroy) are:
- Kirstie Schumacher – has worked in local government, community organisations and most recently for Stanwell as community relations adviser.
- Terry Fleischfresser – served on the former Kingaroy Shire Council for eight years and was elected as Division 4 Councillor in 2012, where he has chaired the Planning and Property portfolios.
Division 5 (ie Murgon and Proston) are:
- Colleen Bird – Colleen, who lives in Murgon, was born in Cherbourg and is the first candidate from the community to put up her hand for the South Burnett Regional Council.
- Kathy Duff – Kathy was elected to Wondai Shire Council in 2004 and has served on the South Burnett Regional Council since 2008, the past four years as Deputy Mayor. She is also the chair of the Natural Resource Management, Rural Services, Parks and Indigenous Affairs portfolios.
Division 6 (ie Wondai, Tingoora, Kumbia, Wooroolin and Durong) are:
- Ros Heit – Ros was elected to Council in a by-election in 2013 and was returned in 2016; she has chaired Council’s Finance, ICT and Human Resources portfolios and established both the Wondai parkrun group and the Wondai Country Running Festival
- Scott Henschen – An Ironpot farmer who heads Team Ironpot which organises the annual Reef’n’Beef Extravaganza charity fundraiser at Ironpot Hall.
- Related article: Would-Be Mayors Off And Running
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Where To Vote
Polling booths either have “Full” disability access or “Assisted” access unless otherwise marked. Those with “Assisted” access are marked with an asterisk*
South Burnett – South Burnett Regional Council
- * Divisions 3, 4 & 6 – Kingaroy State High School, 15 Toomey Street
- Division 1 – Nanango State School, 39 Drayton Street (access via Burnett Street)
- Division 2 – Blackbutt State School, 25 Crofton Street
- Division 2 – Brooklands Rural Fire Brigade, Lord Street
- * Division 2 – Maidenwell Hall, Pool Street
- Division 2 – Nanango State School, 39 Drayton Street (access via Burnett Street)
- Division 3 – Coolabunia State School, corner D’Aguilar Highway and Mary Street
- Division 3 – Taabinga State School, Railway Terrace
- Division 4 – St John’s Lutheran School, 84 Ivy Street
- * Division 5 – Cloyna State School, 8 William Webber Road
- Division 5 – Mondure Community Hall
- Division 5 – Murgon PCYC South Burnett, 40‐42 Macalister Street
- * Division 5 – Proston State School, 94 Rodney Street
- Division 5 – Wheatlands State School, 422 Byee Road
- * Division 6 – Durong Community Hall, 8940 Chinchilla Wondai Road, Durong South
- Division 6 – Inverlaw Farmers Hall, 1136 Kingaroy‐Burrandown Road
- Division 6 – Kumbia State School, 22 Bell Street
- Division 6 – Wondai Memorial Hall, corner Mackenzie & Scott streets
- Division 6 – Wooroolin State School, 34 Frederick Street
NB. This information was correct as at March 25, 2020
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Other Councils
In Cherbourg, there are eight candidates standing for Mayor, including incumbent Arnold Murray and current councillor Elvie Sandow who is challenging for the top job.
There are also eight candidates vying for the four Councillor positions, including two current councillors, Tom Langton and James Saltner.
In Toowoomba, sitting Mayor Paul Antonio has drawn second spot on the ballot paper.
Top spot went to former council employee Douglas Doelle. The third challenger for Toowoomba Mayor is Chris Meibusch.
A huge field of 32 candidates is standing for the 10 councillor roles.
Four current councillors – Mike Williams, Chris Tait, Joe Ramia and Anne Glasheen – are not re-contesting their positions.
In Gympie, current Mayor Mick Curran has drawn second spot on the ballot paper with opponent Glen Hartwig snaring the important top spot.
With Cr Hartwig running for Mayor, there are two new faces – Dolly Jensen and Leonora Cox – running for his vacated Division 2 role, which means whatever happens at the poll on March 28, there will be at least one woman warming a Council seat at Gympie during the next four years.
In Division 6, which covers the Goomeri, Kilkivan and Widgee, sitting councillor Hilary Smerdon is being challenged by former Kilkivan Shire councillor Brian Thomas and Goomeri librarian Mikki Lawson.
- Related article: Water Issues Dominate Forum
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Cherbourg (in ballot paper order)
Where To Vote
- Cherbourg Town Hall, 22 Barambah Avenue
Mayor
Sylvia McGregor
* Arnold Murray
Gordon Wragge
* Elvie Sandow
Elgan Leedie
Katrina Watson
Lillian Gray
Council
Bronwyn Douglas (Murray)
Leighton Costello
Fred Cobbo
Norman Hegarty
* Tom Langton
Lynette Brown
Eric Brown
* James Saltner
NB. * indicates current councillor
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Gympie (in ballot paper order)
Where To Vote – Division 6
- Goomeri State School, MacTaggart Street
- Kilkivan State School, 6 Council Street
- Lower Wonga Hall, 7 Lower Wonga Road
- Pie Creek Hall, Herron Road
- Tansey Bowls Club, 21 Tansey Hall Road
- Widgee State School, 2156 Gympie‐Woolooga Road
Mayor
* Glen Hartwig
* Mick Curran
Tim Jerome
Division 6
* Hilary Smerdon
Brian Thomas
Mikki Lawson
NB. * indicates current councillor
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Toowoomba (in ballot paper order)
Where To Vote – Cooyar and Yarraman
- Cooyar State School, 16 Gracey Street – no disability access
- Yarraman State School, 17 John Street
Mayor
Douglas Doelle
* Paul Antonio
Chris Meibusch
Council
* Bill Cahill
David King
* Nancy Sommerfield
Lindy Eising
Carol McCabe
Petria Grabham
Chelle McIntyre
Michael Truskinger
Warren Midgley
Rita Clarke
Robert Relvas
Lizzie Adams
* Megan O’Hara Sullivan
Kirsten Smolenski
Mike Flanigan
* Geoff McDonald
* James O’Shea
Kevin Flanagan
Robert Berry
Tim Entwistle
Garry Humphries
Ben Apsey
Melissa Taylor
David Campbell
Aaron Goldie
Kerry Shine
Alyce Nelligan
Joy Mingay
* Carol Taylor
Eakraj Adhikari
Tim McMahon
Rebecca Vonhoff
NB. * indicates current councillor
