Far North unofficial mayors: Community people making a difference
From Babinda to Port Douglas, the Far North has many community members who are willing to put in the hard yards for their people. FIND OUT WHO
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
EACH suburb or town around the Far North has many people who are willing to put in the hard yards for their community.
These people are the ones doing the best they can to build community spirit and make it better for the years to come.
The Cairns Post has spoken to a few individuals from across the Far North – Babinda, Mareeba, Cairns to Yorkeys Knob.
Here are the unofficial mayors looking out for the community.
JOHN GARTSIDE – UNOFFICIAL MAYOR OF MANOORA
John Gartside from Murray Street in Manoora has played a significant role in building the Manoora Community Centre.
In 2014 tragedy struck in the street when seven young children who played near his house, along with their cousin were found dead.
Mr Gartside said once that happened, people in the community disappeared but it was his mission to get people out again.
“I used to go out and give them support, just to have a yarn with people,” he said.
“It took people a while to get back in the community.”
Mr Gartside still has a lot to do with the community gardens.
“I volunteered myself to it. That would be seven days a week,” he said.
“That was when it first started off and nobody was coming in. I used to do a lot of the work.”
SAM BYRD- UNOFFICIAL MAYOR OF EDGE HILL
NOA and Guerilla owner Sam Byrd helped shape the Edge Hill cafe scene into what it is now.
Originally Mr Byrd opened up Ozmosis in 2012 before opening up two other ventures on Collins Ave.
“Reshaping Collins Ave has been our focus over the years,” he said.
“There was just one cafe on the corner, other than there wasn’t really any other dining options. It’s evolved quickly and is now a favourite for locals.
“Especially in the day time, the cafe scene on Collins avenue is fantastic, it’s a bustling place.”
Mr Byrd created the Collins Ave Long Lunch which is an event where other food and beverage operators along the street come together in an effort to continue shaping the scene of the street.
RODNEY EDWARDS – UNOFFICIAL MAYOR OF BABINDA
A face that most people in Babinda will recognise is former owner of Roddo’s News, Rodney Edwards. He is someone who everyone knows around town and has helped get a lot of initiatives running from the ground up.
“It’s a good little town. I’ve just tried to do things that make the town better as much as possible,” he said.
“The RV park was something we got going there. We made it RV friendly through the chamber.”
Mr Edwards recently sold his newsagency but will still be seen around the town.
JADE KENDALL – UNOFFICIAL MAYOR OF YORKEYS KNOB
Jade Kendall has been pivotal in getting the beaches community together through her Cairns Northern Beaches community group which formed about five and a half years ago.
“I noticed that the closeness and the unique community spirit of the northern beaches was starting to dissipate,” she said.
“I wanted to create that unity again so I created that page for that.”
Ms Kendall said a big part of the page was about supporting local businesses.
“When Covid hit we focused on small business and getting people to help small businesses which kept a lot of businesses going,” she said.
“We try not to focus on crime or anything like that.
“It’s really about community members helping each other out. We are a really generous community.”
Ms Kendall was also crowned Queen of the Knob two years in a row.
PAUL AUBIN – UNOFFICIAL MAYOR OF HOLLOWAYS BEACH
Paul Aubin has played a huge role in Holloways Beach. He helped set up the men’s shed and has also done a lot on the beaches in general.
Mr Aubin started CAREFISH in 2009.
“That really gave the recreational minded voices in Cairns a banner to lobby government to lobby for better outcomes for Cairns,” he said.
“Both for environmental and social for community outcomes.”
“I want to see fairness in the environment and for the community,” he said.
“It’s super important. It’s not about profit, it’s about community health and our kids having fun.
“Families staying together, catching fish and stuff is the rewards. Not to mention the economic benefits that come from this.”
RICK HANLON – UNOFFICIAL MAYOR OF CAPE YORK
Rick Hanlon has done a lot of work to support Indigenous youth, he founded AFL Cape York. Mr Hanlon said when it was created he realised there were lot of gripes for young people.
“There was a lack of structured and co-ordination of sporting and recreational activities,” he said.
“We are a reward based program so we reward positive behaviours. Young people going to school is a positive behaviour and we support those people.”
Mr Hanlon overseas 85 staff as the general manager.
“We work to provide a safe and secure environment for young people while they navigate through secondary school,” he said.
“We try and create an atmosphere that supports their needs and mentoring and direction for young people.”
PAULINE HALSALL – UNOFFICIAL MAYOR OF PORT DOUGLAS
Pauline Halsall has been a significant member of Port Douglas Paws and Claws, a rescue animal group.
“I have been collecting the food from our generous community, they put food in from Coles and IGA,” she said.
“I have been lucky enough to find foster careers who have helped us.
“I’d go to Cairns every two to three weeks with food and sometimes I couldn’t even see at the back of my car.
“Over the last four and a half years I have been up and down with animals.”
Ms Halsall said a lot of this was thanks to the community.
“On our Facebook page we’ve managed to find many homes and through the network,” she said.
“We have many lovely people who have found homes for them.”
JOE MORO – UNOFFICIAL MAYOR OF MAREEBA
Joe Moro is known by many across the Tablelands for many of the roles he plays. He is on the Queensland Horticultural Council, Regional Development Australia Far North, Mareeba Chamber of Commerce and more.
“I like being involved in helping organisations ... to leave it in a better situation,” he said.
“It’s about trying to improve the overall community either within Mareeba, Tablelands and Far North Queensland.”
Mr Moro has covered many fields over the years.
“My main focus has always been agriculture. But it’s not just agriculture, it’s arts through to NDIS, he said.
“I am passionate about my home town and Far North Queensland.”
OLIVER VOSS – UNOFFICIAL MAYOR OF REDLYNCH VALLEY
Oliver Voss is active in the Redlynch Valley community while he is not a committee member on the Redlynch Valley Community group he helps a lot.
“I assist those committee members on certain events such as Redlynch Valley Markets and the Tunnel of Terror,” he said.
“The emphasis is I assist them. They are the committee members and I just help them out.”
Ms Voss is at various sporting groups and supports the futsal stadium and sponsors the Redlynch Strikers.
“Redlynch Valley is a community unlike any I have ever lived in,” he said.
“There’s amazing people in the community and there are beautiful families.
“As a real estate agent it’s more than a home, it’s about getting them a part of the community and it’s something everybody out here is proud of.”
SHAI AGER – UNOFFICIAL MAYOR OF TRINITY BEACH
Shai Ager has done a lot for the wildlife community as an activist at a young age. A lot of her work has been focused on wildlife. She s best known from her work through the animal welfare group — the Agile Project.
She has done a lot of volunteer work helping rehabilitate agile wallabies.
More Coverage
Originally published as Far North unofficial mayors: Community people making a difference
Wild tales of Qld public servants convicted of crimes
They’re our police officers, teachers and firefighters – but this lot found themselves on the wrong side of the law. SEE THE LIST
‘His devotion was indescribable’: Region mourns loss of farming giant
An agribusiness trailblazer whose vision and hard work helped establish a thriving Tablelands banana industry in defiance of those who said it couldn’t be done has lost his long-running battle with lung disease.