Mayor’s View – 7th August, 2008
The last two weeks have seen five prestigious awards go to the Cassowary Coast Region and its residents.
Innisfail has won the Far North Queensland ‘Tidy Towns Award’, competing against twenty eight other towns. This award recognises the efforts made by so many to repair the damage done by Cyclone Larry. It has never before been won by Innisfail. The citation refers to the building restoration work which has been done since the cyclone, in particular to the Art Deco facades of the town. Also noted was the well kept state of our parks and gardens, including school properties and private gardens and lawns. A couple of years ago Atherton, as the FNQ winner, went on to win the State award and it would be excellent if Innisfail duplicates this achievement. The State award will be announced in early September, at the Local Government Association of Queensland Conference in Cairns.
Bilyana boxer Paul Fleming will represent Australia at the Beijing Olympics. Paul received an award from council during his recent visit home and is now in Beijing, having completed his training in Thailand on route to the games. We wish him all the best.
The Apprentice of the Year for Far North Queensland has been awarded to Michael Obah of Innisfail, who is employed by Council as a plumber. He recently completed his apprentice, sixteen months earlier than the usual period taken. Michael started with Johnstone Shire Council some six years ago as a labourer and is a valued employee. We wish him well in the State Apprenticeship Awards, which will be decided later in the year in Brisbane. The CCRC employs twelve apprentices and Michael’s achievement is an inspiration to them and the hundreds of other apprentices in the region.
Katie- Ann Flegler was selected as the rural ambassador for North Queensland at the 2008 Cairns Show. The aim of these awards is to highlight the role of young people in rural Queensland generally and in particular the contribution they make to the agricultural shows. She will represent the North Queensland Chamber of Agricultural Societies, covering the area from Bowen north, in Brisbane at the Ekka. The winner for Queensland will then compete in the national finals at the Sydney Royal Show. Katie-Ann and Cameron Flegler are well known primary producers in the Tully area and her parents are Alan and Elaine Lever, of Leverdale Droughtmaster Stud near Euramo. Congratulations and good luck Katie-Ann.
‘Mothers Helping Others’ have been awarded the Outstanding Accomplishment Award from in excess of twenty nominees from across Far North Queensland. This dedicated Innisfail based group is constantly launching new initiatives to assist young families in areas such as child literacy, fitness and health. Their early childhood reading program “Books for Bubs” has been an outstanding success and should be replicated across Queensland and indeed Australia.
These achievements and good news stories should encourage us to look positively towards the future and foster a growing sense of community spirit and regional pride.