Forum members identify their focus at Port Douglas ministerial forum

Several topics of interest will be identified when the Ministerial Regional Community Forum for Far North Queensland comes to Port Douglas on Monday 26 March.

Minister for Communities, Disability Services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Seniors and Youth, Warren Pitt and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport Phil Reeves, are scheduled to attend the forum.

Steve Wettenhall MP, Member for Barron River and Regional Queensland Councillor for Far North Queensland, said the MPs would discuss a number of significant local issues with regional representatives known as forum members and these discussions will guide the development of proposals over the next three years.

The 26 March forum will be the first time that new forum members from the Far North Queensland region will participate in the important event. New members include:

• Ms Jo Abbatangelo: a Community Resource Officer from KewarraBeach, with a strong interest in multicultural issues.
• Mr Marcus Bulstrode: a small business owner from Mena Creek who is actively involved in the conservation sector and tourism industry.
• Mr Mario Calanna: a business owner from Woree working in the health sector with a long term involvement in schools, church groups and the broader community
• Ms Darlene Fell: a community leader from Thursday Island who has experience as a member of the previous Far North Queensland Ministerial Regional Community Forum. Darlene has established links with a range of Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area organisations.
• Mr Marc Harbrow: a development officer working with Auskick who also has previous experience as a Forum member. Marc’s interests are in health, education, rural and Indigenous issues.
• Ms Julia Leu: Manager, Community, Cultural and Economic for Douglas Shire Council with long experience in interacting with a cross-section of regional organisations and committees. Julia is also a former Member of the Far North Queensland Ministerial Regional Community Forum.
• Ms Sonya Maley: a business owner from WongaBeach with strong interests in the rural sector and sustainability.
• Sian Nivison: a Community Services manager from Cooktown and a former Member of the Far North Queensland Ministerial Regional Community Forum. Sian is active in a number of organisations across a range of sectors.
• Mr Keith Noble: a Farm Manager and Rural Planner from Tully with involvement in various regional and state based primary production organisations.
• Ms Kate Sutcliffe: a Senior Business Consultant from Gordonvale and former Chief Executive Officer for the Gulf Savannah Development Corporation who returns to the Far North Queensland Ministerial Regional Community Forum after having served on the previous forum. Kate has an extensive network of contacts in local government and the general community especially in the western part of the region.

“I encourage anyone interested in local issues to attend as part of the public audience and listen to the views of forum members and the attending MPs,” Steve Whettenhall said.

The forum will take place at Port Douglas Community Hall, Mowbray Street, Port Douglas, from 9.30 am.

For more information and to RSVP contact the Department of Communities in Cairns on 4039 8995.

Media Contact: Steve Wettenhall MP, Member for Barron River and Regional Queensland Councillor for Far North Queensland, phone 4038 2800.