As this is my first column for 2025, I would like to wish you a very happy new year!
I hope you enjoyed a safe and enjoyable festive season. I enjoyed the opportunity to spend quality time with my family and friends, do some travel, and relax in this spectacular region we call home.
The last month has been a busy one, which kicked off with a celebration of the 2024 Turning Canungra Pink and Community Cancer Care achievements. Over $80000 was raised during this event and shows yet again how our community rallies around a worthy cause, especially one that provides support to locals in need. Congratulations to the organisers and the many local individuals and groups who supported this worthy cause!
I attended the Canungra Visitor Information Centre AGM and thank all those who took on executive positions to keep this valuable organisation thriving. The VIC not only provides a valuable service to over 12000 visitors to the town each year, but is also a great place to find a unique gift with a local flavour!
In an effort to strengthen the region’s bid to host rowing events in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, my fellow Councillors and I attended the 2025 Rowing Queensland State Championships at Wyaralong Dam on Saturday 25 January. We were joined by the honourable Scott Bucholz MP, Federal Member for Wright, as well as Jon Krause, State Member for Scenic Rim, and Rowing Queensland CEO Matt Bialowski. Together, we advocated for further development of the sport of Rowing and why we believe that the Scenic Rim region has one of the best venues in the country to host such sports in the 2032 Games.
It was an honour to attend the Australia Day festivities at The Centre Beaudesert, where our region welcomed 22 new citizens as part of the annual Australia Day citizenship ceremony.
Congratulations to all of the winners of the Australia Day Awards, and a big shout out to Canungra local Janine Rockliff for winning the Citizen of the Year (31-65 yr). Janine has been Chairperson of the Canungra & District Community Financial Group for 11 years. Janine’s involvement was instrumental in returning banking services to Canungra after a 30-year hiatus and finding a banking model that has returned over $300,000 to the community in the form of grants, donations and sponsorships. I can’t imagine a more worthy recipient of this award. Well done Janine!
Thank you to those who submitted Expressions of Interest in joining the Canungra Master Plan Committee. I look forward to working with you in developing a plan to address the many issues facing our rapidly growing town.
Finally, just a friendly reminder to sign up to the Disaster Dashboard to ensure you are prepared in case of a disaster.
Thank you for your continued support, and I hope to connect with you soon.
