{"id":343974,"date":"2024-02-15T20:44:42","date_gmt":"2024-02-15T10:44:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=343974"},"modified":"2024-02-29T17:27:52","modified_gmt":"2024-02-29T07:27:52","slug":"candidates-go-bush-for-the-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2024\/02\/15\/candidates-go-bush-for-the-night\/","title":{"rendered":"Candidates Go Bush For The Night"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The three candidates challenging for Division 5 … Allan Walters, Heath Sander and Stuart Battese outlined their ideas for improving the South Burnett Regional Council at Thursday’s MBDA Meet ‘n’ Greet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

February 15, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n

All four South Burnett mayoral candidates were in action together for the first time at the Murgon Business and Development Association’s\u00a0 (MBDA) meet’n’greet on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n

Guests at the social evening also had the opportunity to meet the three candidates who are standing for Division 5, which covers the Murgon area.<\/p>\n

The business get-together was hosted at the Barambah Bush Caravan Park and followed a similar format to the meet’n’greets which have been organised for some time by the Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry.<\/p>\n

There were drinks and a barbecue to enjoy before the focus turned to the guest speakers.<\/p>\n

Peter Croxford spoke about his family’s caravan park which also includes cabins and a large camping ground set in 140 acres of natural bushland.<\/p>\n

Jason Virtue, from Regional Business HQ, spoke about business disaster preparedness<\/a><\/strong> and the one-on-one services which are available to help businesses draft emergency plans.<\/p>\n

It was then time for the Council hopefuls to speak.<\/p>\n

MBDA president Amy Wicks said that to be fair to everyone, the speaking order would be drawn from a hat.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The three candidates for Murgon’s Division 5 – Stuart Battese, Heath Sander and Allan Walters – were invited to speak for three minutes each.<\/p>\n

The four mayoral candidates – Tom Wilson, Gavin Jones, Kathy Duff and Kirstie Schumacher – then took turns at the microphone (see recordings, below).<\/p>\n

Amy’s daughter Hayley, 10, kept the candidates on time with a bell.<\/p>\n

After the speeches, guests were invited to buttonhole the night’s speakers if they had any questions.<\/p>\n

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Andrew Fennell, Lanse Rea, Jim Hook and Danny Summers were enjoying the social atmosphere at the meet ‘n’ greet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Guest speakers included Peter Croxford and Regional Business HQ’s Jason Virtue while Barambah Bush owner Scott Croxford chatted to guests<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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MBDA president Amy Wicks compered the evening while her daughter Hayley, 10, kept time<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Division 5 Candidates<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the order they spoke on the night:<\/strong><\/p>\n