Jann Stuckey is one of the strongest leaders the Gold Coast has ever had and she has been forced to go against the grain

Long-serving Currumbin Jann Stuckey is regarded as one of the strongest leaders the Gold Coast has ever had. She admits she has been forced to go against the grain during her long career.

LOOKING back at a long career in politics, Jann Stuckey one of the Gold Coast’s longest serving MP’s is battle hardened and as determined as ever.

Serving her fourteenth year in the role representing the people of Currumbin she has endured both political highs and lows and has come out the other end without regrets.

“I’ve been one of the incredibly fortunate ones to have lived this role and have seen my career gone full circle,” she said.

“From losing my first election (2001) to the honour of becoming Minister (2012) to time in the opposition there is so much to be grateful for.”

Long serving Member of parliament Jann Stuckey. Picture David Clark

A nurse by trade Ms Stuckey said she had no aspirations for politics until she found her voice while assisting her children’s school.

It was that first hand experience in advocacy that made her realise what could be achieved.

“A nurse is the opposite personality type for a politician, I am too much of a softie, but that doesn’t mean I am a shrinking violet,” she said.

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As the fifth ever female liberal to win a seat in state parliament, Ms Stuckey says she has grown through the ‘rough and tumble’.

“It was very much a boys club, and I was not the first woman to have experienced that. There were originally no toilets for women in parliament in Queensland, so yes it was a very masculine place.

Jann Stuckey is the fifth ever female Liberal to win a seat in state parliament. Picture David Clark

“I am really grateful my nursing days stood me in good stead, I give as good as I get.”

She counts her time speaking at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in her capacity as minister for Tourism one of the pivotal moments in her career.

The firey personality describes herself as persistent, admits having a public face isn’t always easy.

“I am not always a high achiever, or the brightest star, but I am a hard worker and I believe a whole lot of little things add up to a lot.

“Things do still hurt me of course, I’ve been brought to tears by some of it.

“But yes you do have to fake it till you make it.”

Most recently Jann has faced a backlash from her party in the media over her vote in support of decriminalising abortion.

Most recently Jann has faced backlash from her party in the media over her vote in support of decriminalising abortion. Picture David Clark

This is not the first time she has crossed the floor on a controversial bill having previously voted in favour of stem cell research.

“There are no winners in these debates, they are all deeply personal and all you can do it be honest and listen to as many people as you can.”

As she prepares for a major surgery this week, Ms Stuckey is coy about what might by next for her.

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“Over the Christmas period I am giving me some time for myself, I have a grandson I haven’t met yet, I have to have a surgery I have been putting off for a year.

“You can’t just jump to London for a cuddle when you have set parliamentary dates, you can’t just be with your daughter when she has a child.

“I know I have made a lot of sacrifices but I am happy to have made every one of them.

“But I really I want to enter 2019 without the pain and suffering I have had all year.”

“Ultimately I want to be remembered as someone who really did put their community first, and was accessible as possible.”

The Gold Coast Bulletin’s inaugural Harvey Norman Gold Coast Women of the Year campaign celebrates the city’s leading females.

Originally published as Jann Stuckey is one of the strongest leaders the Gold Coast has ever had and she has been forced to go against the grain