Debate before Whitsunday Regional Council portfolios passed

Mayor Jennifer Whitney’s portfolio motion was finally passed at a special council meeting last Wednesday with her Deputy Peter Ramage and Division 5 councillor David Clark continuing to oppose the proposal.

The portfolios will be divided up in a similar fashion to how ministers in the state and federal governments are handed certain packages including water and sewerage, rates or land and development etc.

"Given the geographical aspect of the region, I fail to see how this can work. I am yet to find a regional areas where its has worked," deputy mayor Peter Ramage said. "It is not compulsory, it is not in the act and I think it will be very hard to do something like this in a divided council.

Cr Kevin Collins disagreed.

"In our recent training it was made very clear to us all, which surprised me, that we are councillors for the whole region not just the division. And as far as I can see we cannot be across every single aspect of the council so I say let’s have a crack at it, and if it doesn’t work within six months, we’ll come back to the table with it.

Cr Clifford brought Bundaberg council into the argument saying their boundary covered an even greater geographical area than the Whitsundays and reiterated her support for a united council.

Cr John Collins entered the debate saying he was the newbie on the block and since being elected he’d been contacted by several constituents outside his division already.

"I am willing to have a crack at it, let’s give it a go and as Kevin says if it doesn’t work out we’ll revisit it in six months," Cr Collins said.

The mayor said the portfolios would be instrumental in getting over the massive hurdle of amalgamation which Cr Ramage argued there simply hadn’t been enough research put into the project.

"I don’t think it has been done democratically but I can see which way it is going to go and I am not in favour of it at all," deputy Ramage said.

In a show of good faith to her comrades, the mayor let the debate continue well past protocol.

Cr Kevin Collins took the floor.

"Some old bloke called me the other day about a dirt road. Now I know nothing about dirt roads and I am sure when he hung up he said to his wife "that guy’s an idiot" and he’d be right. If I could have said to him hang on I will put you on to someone who is an expert in that field, we’d all be a lot better off!

However it was the wishes of the majority that the motion be passed and so it was four to two with Crs Ramage and Clark voting against it, and Cr Andrew Willcox absent.

Community spirited-locals back gala event

The melodic sounds of 80s singing sensation Wendy Matthews will ring out across Daydream Island in mid-September for a major fundraising concert which has attracted the backing of many community-spirited locals.

Proserpine real estate agent Reg Gillen is just one of the charitable hearts in the Whitsundays who has been moved by the courage and determination of a local mum who lost her six year old son to cancer some 18 months ago.

Lisa Christofersen’s son Logan Wells passed away in December 2010, just 20 days short of his 7th birthday.

"To lose a child is indescribable. To see your child suffer from cancer takes everything to another level. The grief will never stop, it just takes different forms in our daily lives. I see so much of Logan in our daughter Sienna. We always talk about Logan as if he is here……….well we believe that he is here," said Lisa.

Lisa’s bravery in spite of unimaginable grief is what attracted Mr Gillen to the September 16 event.

"Considering the heartbreak she’s been through losing her son, she has taken a very proactive stance in helping people in a similar situation. Once again this event is going to be supported by any number of locals who put their hearts on their sleeves for the community they love," Mr Gillen said.

The popular real estate agent will be running the charity auction for the event which he envisages may gravitate to a yearly event.

"I first started helping Lisa last year at the function at the Reef Gateway and we raised a fair bit of money there. But the way she is approaching this event ins something unique. It’s going to be an asset to the area because it could gravitate to something locals could look forward to every year," Mr Gillen said.

The fundraising began last year in the name of Logan’s Run when a team of 85 people walked in "the Bridge to Brisbane" in Logan’s honour.

"After that I went into a fund raising frenzy, starting in May 2011. We raised about $50,000 locally, and a total of $56,000 was raised all together with the Brisbane contingent from the hospital. I know dozens of families with children on chemo, post chemo, in remission, relapsed or sadly in our situation.

"I started a group called "Mums with Memories" as I needed to talk to other parents in the same boat. Sadly there are now 30 of us in our closed group. We speak each other's language. I am also a part of the larger group of 115 families at RCH. I made life long friends there, and we all need each other's support. It is scary when I get a friend request to Mums with memories. It means another child has died. I will never get used to that,"

However after having three months off from fundraising last year, this inspirational mother is taking the fundraising to a grand new level and while she does have her moments of doubt, her determination sees her through.

"Sometimes I find myself thinking, how can I do this? Can I really put on such a huge event … and I think about all the people who have helped me including George Wade from Centro and Reg Gillen and know that we are in good hands," she said.

And so the gala charity dinner was born. A Night Under the Stars Gala Dinner and Auction starring Wendy Matthews at Daydream Island will unfold on Sunday, September 16 thanks to some amazing sponsorship by local and other supporters.

"However as I have been doing this by myself, I have not been able to get the word out and do need the help of more sponsors! Another $5000 would make it so that the ticket prices are clear profit back to the charities. My goal is to raise a minimum of $15,000 for each charity on the night, but considering our amazing auction items, we may blow this figure out of the water," Lisa said.

Radisson Resorts of Canada have donated 16 nights accommodation across 8 of their properties from Vancouver to Toronto.

"I am still fund raising to raise the international airfare for this. There is a great range of sporting memorabilia in the auction list also. Including boxing gloves signed by Danny Greene, a signed helmet from the V8 racing team, framed and signed Cowboys jersey and Titans Jersey courtesy of Telstra Store Whitsunday, a signed jersey from Australian Cricketer Matthew Hayden and so much more ... a sculpture by Foot Young.

If anyone would like to donate, could they please email me. Lawnbusters@bigpond.com

Tickets will be available from www.whitsundaytickets.com.au. More information in the Guardian in the lead up to the event.

Whitsunday community celebrates a milestone

Memories of yesteryear came to life yesterday afternoon as the angels in blue celebrated 40 years of community care.

The Blue Care Proserpine Community Centre, established in 1972, has had a fascinating history through the last four decades and some of the former registered nurses told their stories at the anniversary event yesterday afternoon.

Prominent locals Doreen Wesley and Lillian Orr remember their days as relieving staff at Blue Care, while current director of nursing Sue Collins praises the former nurses achievements over the last four decades.

"They have made the most significant impact on Blue Care over the years," Ms Collins said.

"They set up the plans for the building and basically formed this to place to what it is today."

Blue Care employs 20 staff who deliver care services to  more than 170 clients.

World titles lures local boaties to Hamilton Island

Brett Shaw doesn’t need to be lured to boating events. He hunts them down.

Just this weekend past, he took his Quintrex 5.6m half-cabin boat over to renowned Hamilton Island for a world class outrigger event to provide on-the-water support for a team from New Zealand who were in a gruelling 42km marathon paddle.

He’s not alone in his passion either with a strong contingent of Proserpine boaties including Shane Spann, and Chris Patrick, and many from Airlie, all motoring across Pioneer Bay to be part of Gatorade’s Battle of the Paddles four-day event.

"This is my fourth year and we love it. Basically our job as the support boat is to follow along with the outrigger team who start with a team of ten, but only six in the canoe to start with. We have the extra four on board and every 12 or so minutes there tactic was to change over two or three of the paddlers," Mr Shaw said.

The Shaw’s team was called Manuz and Jemimaz who came fifth in the women’s open which Mr Shaw says was quite a feat considering they lost two of their crew members two days before
the event.

"There was a mother and daughter component to the team but the daughter had a burst appendix on Friday and she and her mother were flown out on Friday to Mackay … so they had to find two more team members on Saturday … they ran an unbelievable race," he said.

Mr Shaw says his team was hoping to do the race in 3 hrs and 45 minutes and were only ten minutes outside their time. "I take my hat off to them because they did quite well."

While a few things have changed over this keen boatie’s four year involvement with the race, Mr Shaw says the unpredictability of the event has always amazed him.

"The first year I did it, I remember we’re all tuned in to the race control radio station and it came over the two way that there was a large shark eating a turtle near the women’s change over buoy … needless to say we made the decision to move the change over a bit further along the course!"

Mr Shaw was joined on the island by his wife Sue whom the Guardian spotted out along Front Street on Saturday night after they’d enjoyed a big feed of freshly caught crab.

Whitsundays 'Wray' of sunshine

An extremely lucky sea creature who found himself in an unfortunate situation, has found his way safely back home.

Little ‘Wray’ the friendly green sea turtle became trapped in an abandoned crab pot near Long Island and has been taken care of and safely released back into the wild by Fauna Rescue Whitsundays, Libby Edge and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

Local resident John Whatmough came to little Wray’s rescue that day.

"The turtle was extremely lucky he did not drown in that crab pot as he had been caught in it for who knows how long?" he said.

The loveable turtle caught a lift out to sea on Friday with Eco Barge and was released safely.

While celebrating the turtle’s happy ending, Libby Edge along with Eco Barge Clean Seas volunteers were also celebrating World Ocean Day with a trip to Shaw Island.

Together, the eco-friendly group were able to remove a total of 278kg of marine debris.

This week the Eco Barge Clean Seas Inc. band of volunteers will count and sort this huge pile of marine debris and enter each and every piece into a national marine debris data base to help find out where and what types of marine debris enters the Whitsunday islands.

Founding Chair of Eco Barge Clean Seas Inc. Libby Edge wants to thank all the support from Bingo Whitsunday at Club Crocodile and the hard effort all the volunteers who made World Oceans Day such a great success.

"That is 278 kilos less plastic in our precious marine environment. This is the best gift we can give back to our oceans and marine life," Libby said.

"This clean up day was a true community effort to help protect our local marine environment."

Special Whitsunday Regional Council meeting to discuss portfolios

A special meeting of the Whitsunday Regional Council will be held this morning at the Proserpine chamber to discuss the mayor’s motion to provide each councillor with a portfolio.

Early into her new term, Mayor Jennifer Whitney announced she would be preparing a portfolio for each councillor, similar to what a minister in the state government would be given.

"The idea of the portfolios is part of the package for one region. Each portfolio will come with a list and charter which will tell the councillor how they conduct themselves in each role and how they can speak with the press," the mayor said at last Wednesday’s council meeting before Cr David Clark interjected.

"I think it should be tabled until we understand the cost and the implications … it should have been workshopped," Cr Clark said.

Cr Kevin Collins called for the mayor to be allowed to finish her speech before they considered their vote.

"There won’t be any additional costs. There is nothing to be worried about inside the folios but as paid councillors the community expects us to be seen to be involved and this is more in keeping with the state and federal governments. The person in this new role will feed that information back to council at regular meetings."

Deputy Mayor Peter Ramage was in favour of the motion being tabled, saying there had been no information and no workshopping.

"We can work out what this really means to all our individual lives," he said.

Cr Jan Clifford said she found it highly amusing that "they don’t want to play when they don’t know what they are playing with".

Mayor Whitney said she would have dearly loved to have gotten the motion through however, she would vote with the majority.

"I don’t have a secretary, which the CEO is looking into for me … and I have had to do all this up myself and it has been a lot of work," the mayor said.

Her deputy Peter Ramage said it wouldn’t only be an educational process for the councillors, but for the community too.

"We’ll get calls from constituents who want to talk about roads or sewerage, and we’ll have to tell them, sorry it’s not me you need to talk to, even though I am the one you voted in, you’ve got to go to so-and-so and give them a 4945 number," he said.

The tabling was supported by all councillors except Cr Jan Clifford who wanted the folios handed down that day.

Mayor Whitney said of this morning’s meeting she dearly hoped the councillors would accept each of the roles she had chosen for them which are ....

Cr Peter Ramage - water and sewerage, waste health and regulation

Cr Jan Clifford - planning and development, businesses and housing

Cr Kevin Collins - tourism and economic development, airports, festival, events, the arts and grants

Cr Dave Clark - roads and drainage, quarries and jetties, boating, river trusts and pest management

Cr Andrew Willcox - finance and technology, rates, disaster management and fleet management

Cr John Collins - sport, recreational facilities, parks and the environment, community development and libraries, pools, lagoons and caravan parks.

Acting CEO of Tourism and Enterprise Whitsundays looks forward to journey

Passionate Whitsunday tourism advocate Danielle Seymour has been appointed Acting CEO of Tourism and Enterprise Whitsundays following the completion of Peter O’Reilly’s contract on Friday.

Ms Seymour who is the marketing services manager for the two organisations is looking forward to the role.

"It will be challenging because we’re at a crucial point of merging the two organisations and need to manage everything that comes with that – creating and communicating a new brand, creating a new partnership model and developing our new strategic plan.

"It will obviously also be a challenge to balance doing my own job at the same time! But it will be rewarding to lay those foundations for the new organisation and be able to pass on the reins to the new CEO to take things to the next level," Ms Seymour said.

It is expected to be several weeks before the new CEO is appointed and can commence, pending that person’s current contractual arrangements.

In his last letter to members as CEO, Mr O’Reilly told the community of the great honour it had been to market a truly spectacular region.

"It’s been a great honour to work with such a wonderful tourism industry and, most importantly, be surrounded by people I rate as the best RTO team in the State bar none."

Mayor Whitney embraces new role

Challenging, exciting, daunting with a hell of a lot of obstacles in the way. That’s how the Whitsunday’s first female mayor describes her first month in the top job.

"It hasn’t even been a month! But it has been totally enjoyable. Obviously there are people putting obstacles up out there but I don’t see them as obstacles … instead I grab hold of them and use them as a learning curve," said Mayor Jennifer Whitney.

Having many years’ experience in local government, including three terms as a councillor, the mayor says her role is a lot more "hands on" than she thought and was pleasantly surprised so many people wanted to actually speak with the mayor.

During the past four weeks, Mayor Whitney has been meeting with delegates from mining and rail companies, receiving updates on all the major developments projected for the Whitsunday region.

Council meets in Proserpine on Wednesday, June 13 where it is expected the mayor will hand out a portfolio to each of the councillors.

"This is a whole different style of government and I hope people embrace it and move with us. These portfolios will challenge the councillors in a way we mightn’t have been challenged before. They won’t necessarily be in their comfort zone but the community has an expectation that we as paid councillors work for our money. I am not saying we haven’t done this in the past, but we will now be accountable," she said.

The mayor also touched on boat ramps, the controversial block of land Havengrand and de-amalgamation.

"We need an all-weather place for our boaties. We are such a huge boating area "Our registrations prove this but at the moment we have no pontoon at VMR which the boaties want. I believe the rock wall study is almost finalised so we will be looking at that shortly but at the moment the best option is getting Port of Airlie boat ramp up and running as soon as possible," she said.

The mayor touched on Havengrand saying it simply hadn’t been discussed yet by the new council but the matter would be put on the agenda with a view to leasing it out.

"It wouldn’t be viable at the moment to sell it, because we paid far too much for it in the first place ... but at least we should look at leasing it out. By having someone on the land it will help with the maintenance," she said.

And finally de-amalgamation.

"There has been the rumour of de-amalgamation but the decision will come down to the minister and any area that wants to de-amalgamate will have to prove it is able to support itself.

"The people in Collinsville haven’t even given this new council a chance."

Mayor Whitney met with the Guardian in her Proserpine office on Monday morning.

"There has to be an acceptance by management that I am the mayor, and that we need to go on this journey together, to create change for the betterment of the community, for the whole region. I have been voted in to bring about that change.

"This means the region wants a change to the way we do business … which means more consultation, better communication and a more open and accountable council," Mayor Whitney said.

Champion body sculptor whips Proserpine pub into shape

Who would have thought a world champion body sculptor would greet you from behind the bar at the Prince of Wales.

Meet the new owners of the POW, Helen and Steven Longmuir.

Originally of Brisbane, the happy-go-lucky couple took over the local pub just a few weeks ago and they say, thanks to the people in the community, they already feel at home.

"We love the town and the amazing people who live here. They have made my family very welcome," Ms Longmuir said.
Not new to the profession of publicans, the Longmuirs have previously owned two pubs, the 'Commercial' hotel in Home Hill, and another in Enngonia - an isolated, outback town between Cunnamulla and Bourke.
"We love being back in a small town. It's pretty exciting," Ms Longmuir said.

By planting new roots into Proserpine the couple are looking forward to bringing the pub to life with renovated room, a new menu and more live entertainment.

"We still want to keep it as it is..it's very homely here."

Interestingly, Ms Longmuir is also an International Masters Figure Champion, winning the 'Miss Brisbane' title in the Brisbane Classic Figure and Bodybuilding event just last week.

At the age of 48, Ms Longmuir is quickly becoming champion with her hobby as the current Miss Australia Masters Figure Champion and having travelled to the United States to compete with the best in the world.

The mother of five placed fifth in the Muscle Mania competition and second in the Olympia competition held in Australia two years ago.

"I started training and competing in body sculpting competitions four years ago to overcome a shoulder injury.

"I have now competed in 43 figure competitions."
Ms Longmuir says working out at the gym in her release from work and brings variety to her everyday life.
"It's my escape. The half hour of training in the gym everyday is my escape," she said.
The Longmuirs welcome locals to introduce themselves to the proud new owners of the local pub.
"If we haven't met you yet, please drop in for a drink with us!"
Ms Longmuir competed in a Townsville body sculpting competition on the weekend and today will set off to participate in another on the Gold Coast.