Acknowledgement of Ian Leavers
Along with our community, I am deeply saddened by the passing of Queensland Cross-Border Commissioner, Mr Ian Leavers. Having worked closely with Ian for over 20 years, I knew him as an exceptional public servant, a personal friend, and a great mate who led with integrity and compassion. His outstanding career included 15 years as President of the Queensland Police Union and his recent impactful work as our first Queensland Cross-Border Commissioner, where he was making a meaningful difference for border communities. Ian’s dedication and heart will be profoundly missed by all who knew him.
Reflection on Remembrance Day
My fellow Councillors and I were deeply honoured to participate in the Goondiwindi region Remembrance Day service. The solemn ceremony, expertly led by the local RSL committee, gave us a crucial moment for reflection. By laying a wreath, we paid tribute to the extraordinary courage, dedication, and unwavering commitment to duty demonstrated by all past and present service personnel and their families, remembering particularly those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Service mapping for Goondiwindi Region
I am very pleased that Council has commenced a comprehensive service mapping project aimed at improving service delivery across the region, with a strong focus on at-risk youth and their families. This important project, funded by the Office of the Queensland Cross-Border Commissioner, aims to undertake the necessary work to understand what’s happening on the ground: what services currently exist, where the gaps lie, and whether government programs and targets effectively meet the needs of our border community.
Too often, at-risk youth can fall through the cracks due to interagency gaps and disconnected ‘drive-in, drive-out’ models. By understanding where services are working, and where they’re not, we can guide state and federal agencies to allocate resources more effectively and with a clear focus on outcomes.
It’s also about showing our community exactly what services are delivered and how they are delivered. I’ve been advocating for this mapping for a long time, and I thank everyone who has already contributed feedback. I look forward to sharing the results as we continue to work on identifying more effective and coordinated services for our region.
In the coming week locals will be invited to also participate in the consultation process. We are interested in hearing your experiences in engaging with service providers, or if you believe there are specific gaps that need to be addressed. The survey is for both those that have been clients and their families, but also those who may be involved in the sector and would like to have a say. Please contact Council for more information to participate.
St Mary’s School Awards Celebrates Achievement
Attending the St Mary’s school awards ceremony last week alongside my fellow councillors was a highlight. The collective dedication and hard work demonstrated by the students, staff, and supportive families are clearly evident in the remarkable individual accomplishments celebrated. The overall feeling from the evening was extremely uplifting and the St Mary’s school community are rightly proud of the education and quality leadership on offer.
Goondiwindi region welcomes new residents
Last week, it was my sincere honour to preside over another Citizenship Ceremony, officially welcoming four new Australian citizens to our region. It is always deeply heartening to witness individuals and families making the active choice to settle in the Goondiwindi Region, enriching both our community life and our local economy through their contributions.
To date this year, we have proudly welcomed 16 new individuals from diverse global backgrounds. These ceremonies remain profoundly special occasions, allowing us to formally recognise our newest citizens while celebrating the unique perspectives and strengths they bring to our region.
Goondiwindi Growth Forum
This morning, I had the pleasure, alongside my fellow Councillors, of joining the Goondiwindi Chamber of Commerce and representatives from the Queensland Government at the Goondiwindi Growth Forum. The forum was a valuable opportunity to hear firsthand about the breadth of Queensland government support available to local businesses, particularly small enterprises that are strongly represented in our region’s economy.
A clear message emerged from the discussions: if your business is seeking assistance, whether financial guidance, marketing support, training opportunities, mentoring or export manufacturing advancement, or advice on how to benefit from local QBuild procurement, help is readily available. The State government teams are highly connected, knowledgeable and committed to supporting businesses in our region to grow, adapt and succeed.
Whetstone Rural Fire facility opens
I had an opportunity to attend the AGM of the Whetstone Rural Fire Brigade on the weekend and inspect the new building. This long-awaited facility provides a central meeting and coordination space as well as much needed storage for local fire equipment. It was great to see the facility operational in preparation for the high-risk season.
Congratulations to local success stories
Last month, local Goondiwindi region business Growth Ag (in partnership with Innovate Ag) won the Innovation Award at the inaugural Australian Manufacturing Awards. It is exceptional to see local businesses recognised for their forward-thinking solutions in agriculture and regional manufacturing. Their creation of an organic and safe pesticide, is a significant achievement supported by extensive scientific testing right here in the Goondiwindi region. Congratulations to all on your perseverance and resulting successes.
I’d also like to congratulate our local finalists, who have been named in the top five of the 7 News Queensland Community Achievement Awards. Zane Nonal has been recognised for his outstanding commitment to supporting young people in our region through his work as a mentor for often at-risk youth at the Goondiwindi PCYC and Goondiwindi Basketball, drawing on his own lived experience of the challenges of migrating from the Philippines as a teenager.
Peter and Kate Beard of Goondiwindi FoodWorks are also top five finalists in the Small Business Awards. Since reopening FoodWorks, they have revitalised the business and made an exceptional contribution to our community, from supporting Lanescape murals and coordinating events to sponsoring local initiatives and providing employment opportunities for vulnerable residents. Our community is richer for their involvement.
Both finalists will travel to Brisbane this weekend for the official ceremony, and we wish them every success.