We tracked down some of FNQ’s famous faces from the past to find out what they are doing now

Here are the tales of a former multi-millionaire who now has a regular day job, one of the drivers behind the Cairns International Airport and the man who sat in the hot seat at this newspaper for almost two decades. WHERE ARE THEY NOW? PART 3

HERE is the third instalment of the Cairns Post’s new series: Where Are They Now?

These are five people who once were making headlines regularly in Far North Queensland, but have since stepped away from the spotlight, through retirement, personal choice ... or maybe another reason entirely.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? PART 1

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? PART 2

Our team of journalistic sleuths have tracked them down to find out what they are up to now.

Some are doing something completely different to before, while others have moved into a new phase in their careers.

Here, we remember what they were known for in the Far North as well as what the future holds for them.

15. MICK BORZI – FORMER MAREEBA SHIRE MAYOR 

Mick Borzi clears his office at Mareeba after finishing up as Mareeba mayor in 2008.

BORN Michelli Borzi to Italian immigrant canecutters, Mick’s passion for the region is undeniable.

Along with other regional leaders at the time, he was instrumental in driving the transformation of Cairns Airport into an international airport in the 1980s.

The former Mareeba Shire chairman for two terms was also appointed to international roles promoting the Far North and has been heavily involved in the revitalisation and running of the Mareeba Heritage Museum and visitor information centre.

Mr Borzi is now the president of the museum.

After being recognised as a top tourism attraction five years in a row, the organisation recently was entered into the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame.

He stepped down from his role as Mareeba Hospital committee chairman in 2017 but remains passionate about the health industry in the region.

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14. ROB PYNE – CAIRNS MP, 2015-2017

Independent member for Cairns Rob Pyne has lost his seat in the 2017 election, attracting only 19 percent of the primary vote. Picture: BRENDAN RADKE

AFTER serving as a Cairns councillor for two terms, Rob Pyne became the first quadriplegic MP in Queensland State Parliament when he defeated former journalist Gavin King to take the seat of Cairns in 2015.

Part way through his term he then quit the Labor Party to join the crossbench as an independent saying he was “no longer prepared to be told how to vote by someone from Brisbane”.

The son of former Cairns mayor Tom Pyne, Rob used his MP position to table multiple accusations regarding corruption in councils.

He lost his seat to Labor candidate Michael Healy in 2017 and announced he would go on the dole while briefly attempting to be a bitcoin “guru”.

He has recently announced he will be running in the 2020 Cairns Regional Council elections for Division 3 - the seat he previously held.

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13. ALAN HUDSON – CAIRNS POST EDITOR, 1974-1991

Former Cairns Post editor Alan Hudson, pictured when he became Silkwood Bowling Club's new singles champion after defeating titleholder Len Charman 25-16 in a 2016 final.

THIS newsroom stalwart steered the Cairns Post as editor from 1974 -1991 and continued to contribute as a sub editor and resident historian for many years afterwards.

A prolific author, he has written a number of local histories including, but not limited to, Growing up with Cairns: A Memoir; Sweet Success: a story of South Johnstone Mill; By the Banyan and Tracks of Triumph, a tribute to the pioneers who built the famous Kuranda scenic railway.

During his tenure as Cairns Post editor, Mr Hudson got to know former Mareeba mayor Mick Borzi, who was instrumental in driving Cairns Airport into an international airport in the 1980s.

He then went on to pen Mick Borzi’s biography, A Very Public Life, which was first published in 1999.

These days Mr Hudson blisters the greens at Silkwood Bowls Club.

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12. ROY LAVIS – FORMER CHIEF EXECUTIVE, CEC GROUP 

Former head of CEC, Roy Lavis, speaks out about how the banks ruined his business. Picture: Marc McCormack

AS THE former chief executive of the CEC Group Limited, which listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in 2004, Mr Lavis helped build Cairns into be the city it is today.

But in the midst of the Global Financial Crisis, the Commonwealth Bank called in its loans.

Mr Lavis, who had taken out a $160 million loan, was forced to rapidly reduce the debt despite CEC never having missed a repayment in more than three decades of operation.

As a result, the business went bust, leaving 750 employees without a job, and 2500 subcontractors and suppliers and 1800 shareholders out of pocket.

Now, Mr Lavis is helping his son and daughter out with projects and has been vocal in his support for the Royal Commission into banking and the need for duplication of the Kuranda Range Road.

He reappeared in the Cairns Post headlines in June, when he urged the Federal Government to put his case against the bank through the court system “so that justice can prevail”.

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11. UDO JATTKE – PROPERTY DEVELOPER AND MILLIONAIRE

Former millionaire and Glencorp/Glenwood owner Udo Jattke is now working in Cairns as a real estate agent.. PICTURE: STEWART MCLEAN

THE former multi-millionaire property developer was the darling of the state and country’s rich lists in the early 2000s before the business crumbled.

Mr Jattke was Queensland’s biggest home-builder and the sixth largest in the country before his businesses Glenwood Homes and Glencorp were placed in receivership in 2011 with debts of $30 million.

Late in 2018, the former carpentry apprentice joined RE/MAX Cairns as a sales agent and has wasted no time using his industry expertise to sell a number of high-profile luxury properties in the region.

He is still passionate about the industry and said his wealth of contacts were coming in handy in the new job.

Don’t miss the next instalment on Friday when we count down places 10-6 at cairnspost.com.au.

Originally published as We tracked down some of FNQ’s famous faces from the past to find out what they are doing now