Friends Gather To Farewell Nina

September 12, 2023

A private function to farewell South Burnett CTC CEO Nina Temperton had to be shifted into the Kingaroy Town Hall last Thursday night as so many people wanted to attend.

Almost a hundred people came to the event to thank Nina for her amazing 31 years of service with the not-for-profit organisation.

CTC employees rubbed shoulders with Nina’s colleagues from Lions, the recently wound-up Kingaroy Regional Enterprise Centre Association, the South Burnett Wine Industry Association, the former Kingaroy Shire Council and the current South Burnett Regional Council.

News clippings from across the years as well as other memorabilia from her time at the helm were on display.

Chair John Box praised Nina’s dedicated service to CTC as well as to the South Burnett community as a whole.

He said the passion she displayed had always been evident.

He had asked Nina how she had built CTC from having a handful of staff to an organisation which now employed 250-plus people.

“Nina was quick to respond that it wasn’t just her, it was the dedicated senior staff and every individual staff member who made CTC what it is,” John said.

“I also asked Nina what was her secret to success. And she responded that she ran CTC like a German housewife!”

John became emotional as he praised Nina’s integrity, empathy and leadership.

CTC Youth and Family Services manager Kirsten Firman spoke about Nina’s “vision”.

“She saw in her adopted community a significant need. The South Burnett needed someone like Nina to fight for the people,” Kirsten said.

“She’s innovative and creative. In the early days, CTC was growing so rapidly we often didn’t know what we were doing.

“To be successful in getting projects in our area we had to learn about new fields that were foreign to us, and do that very rapidly.

“We would then use that knowledge to develop models that we had a shot at.

“In those days we struggled for every dollar, and we had to make it stretch.”

Kirsten said one of Nina’s greatest traits was her courage as CTC branched into new areas.

“As CEO she had the courage to have a go,” Kirsten said.

The evening was also an opportunity to welcome Nina’s replacement as CEO, Jason Erbacher, who has been with CTC for the past 12 months learning the ropes as Chief Operating Officer / Chief Financial Officer.

Jason will officially take over the reins on September 18.