{"id":343776,"date":"2024-02-09T21:17:51","date_gmt":"2024-02-09T11:17:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=343776"},"modified":"2024-02-29T17:28:59","modified_gmt":"2024-02-29T07:28:59","slug":"deb-to-run-for-division-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2024\/02\/09\/deb-to-run-for-division-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Deb To Run For Division 4"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Kingaroy resident Deb Dennien is having a second shot at running for Council<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

February 9, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n

Former real estate agent – and jockey – Deb Dennien is the latest candidate to nominate for a South Burnett Regional Council role in the upcoming election.<\/p>\n

Deb has nominated to contest Division 4, the Kingaroy division currently held by Cr Kirstie Schumacher who is vacating the position to run for mayor.<\/p>\n

It’s not the first time Deb has shown an interest in running for Council; she tossed her hat in the ring in 2016 in a five-way contest which was ultimately won by Cr Danita Potter.<\/p>\n

Deb secured just over 20 per cent of the vote that time around.<\/p>\n

She told southburnett.com.au<\/strong> she had not really considered standing again until someone rang her recently and asked if she was planning to run.<\/p>\n

Deb thought about the reasons why she had run in 2016, and realised nothing had changed.<\/p>\n

“I am still passionate about the community, I still think one of the biggest things we need is that real community engagement so that people feel that Council is listening to them,” she said.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“What priorities do the people in Kingaroy have? Where do they see the future?<\/p>\n

“It is a strategic role in Council, not operational. We should be looking at where we are going.”<\/p>\n

Deb said the South Burnett had a lot to be thankful for, including Swickers, the mine, and now a new hospital “but we have to capitalise on that” with strategic planning.<\/p>\n

Funding for roads would be a key issue for the new Council.<\/p>\n

But there were big changes ahead for the SBRC with the decision by three sitting councillors to vie for mayor.<\/p>\n

“We will be losing a lot of experience in the area,” she said.<\/p>\n

“It will be a big learning curve for the new people.”<\/p>\n

Deb originally moved to the South Burnett in the 1980s to become an apprentice jockey at Wondai after racing was opened to female riders.<\/strong><\/p>\n

She stayed, got married and raised four children here.<\/p>\n

After her riding career finished, Deb worked for 15 years for Meals On Wheels as a support for the various committees across southern Queensland.<\/p>\n

This role required a lot of travelling, but also meant she had to engage with volunteer committees and strategic planning.<\/p>\n

Along the way she also opened her own real estate business as well as working part-time for the Public Guardian as a community visitor, assisting children in foster care.<\/p>\n

Deb said she was keen to speak to more Division 4 residents to find out what worried them but she already knew they were concerned about roads, footpaths, the Council Budget and water security.<\/p>\n

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