Margaret McMurdo keeps busy with Queensland Community Foundation; Sue Johnson; Ned McKendry; Derek Mollison

FORMER top judge Margaret McMurdo may have been keeping herself busy since stepping down from the bench last year, but what’s she been doing exactly?

Former top judge Margaret McMurdo heads up Queensland Community Foundation.

ON THE CASE

FORMER top judge Margaret McMurdo may have been keeping herself busy since stepping down from the bench last year, but what’s she been doing exactly?

Well the former president of the Queensland Court of Appeal is now beavering away as chair of the little-known Queensland Community Foundation (QCF), a charitable trust that has given out millions of dollars since being established by former premier Mike Ahern in 1997 with seed money of $300,000.

Illustration of Margaret McMurdo by Brett Lethbridge.

McMurdo has been surprised that the QCF has such a low profile, even to the extent that people scratch their heads in confusion when the name is mentioned. “Even lawyers and judges are asking what I am doing and when I tell them they say they are not aware of (the QCF),” says McMurdo.

She says the QCF is now an $80 million fund overseen by the QCF board and managed by QIC. “Mike Ahern did two great things,” she says. “Instituting the recommendation of the Fitzgerald Inquiry in full was one and establishing the QCF another.” McMurdo says people can set up their own charity in the name of a loved one under the auspices of QCF and specify which charities are to receive donations.

WING AND A PRAYER

ARE soaring fuel prices forcing motorists to dangerously delay filling up their tanks? Transurban group executive for Queensland Sue Johnson tell us the toll road operator has noticed an apparent correlation between people running out of fuel and spikes in petrol prices. Apparently people are pushing their luck in the hope they can fill up when prices become cheaper. The RACQ announced yesterday that it will share data and analysis on fuel prices with the State Government in an attempt to tackle soaring prices at the bowser. Running out of fuel on the Gateway Bridge seems a dangerous bet to save a few bucks.

WATERFRONT PROPERTY

FORMER Olympic swimmer Ned McKendry is forging a career as a retail leasing agent with Colliers. The 25-year-old started with Colliers at the start of the year and is loving the competitive nature of the property business. “It’s a bit like competitive swimming in that respect,” says McKendry, who represented Australia at the London Olympics in 2012. McKendry says he still “throws the arm over occasionally” in the pool but does not miss competitive swimming.

ON YOUR BIKE

GOLD Coast-based bus company Transit Australia Group (TAG) is getting into the bike business. The company, which builds and operates a fleet of buses on the tourist strip, will launch a bikeshare scheme on Wednesday in time for the Commonwealth Games.

The scheme which involves a partnership with Chinese bikeshare service Mobike will see up to 2000 bikes at various stations around the Coast prior to the games which starts on April 4.

TAG Mobility general manager Derek Mollison says the bikes will be strategically placed near bus and light rail stops, and are designed to complement public transport routes.

Mobike general manager Mina Nada said the bikeshare will be “dockless” meaning they will not have to be tethered to a dock when returned. Rather they will be tracked using GPS and other smart tracking devices.

That provides users, who pay a small fee to use a bike, with flexibility and convenience. The scheme, which has the support of the Gold Coast City Council, is described as a social enterprise with a focus on creating local employment opportunities and clean and affordable transport.

Mobike’s Nada says the location of bike stations and the tracking devices will ensure that bikes are not dumped in creeks and other spots as has been experienced with other bike sharing schemes.