Burnett’s most influential people of 2023 #10-1
Who are the Burnett’s ultimate powerbrokers, the heavy hitters shaping our region and, to an extent, our lives? After rolling out two thirds of the list this week - number 30 to 11 - we today reveal the top 10, and the insights into why they made the cut and where they are ranked.
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The official top 10 of the most influential, powerful and respected people of the Burnett has been revealed, with political leaders, athletes and farmers making the final list.
Burnett’s 2023 Power 30 Part One: 30 -21
The 2023 Power 30 have been assessed on several key criteria: their ability to influence the decisions that matter in our region, the breadth of their influence and the strength of their power and or influence.
Burnett’s 2023 Power 30 Part Two: 20-11
The men and women were critiqued on how effectively they use that influence. Not all live in the Burnett, but all have a stake in its growth and development, or an influence on our lives.
#10 Elvie Sandow
A lifelong Cherbourg resident, Elvie Sandow has an extensive history of community service and leadership.
In 2020, she was elected as the first female mayor of the Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council, after serving more than two decades as councillor and payroll officer.
She has been regarded for her dedication to the youth of Cherbourg, supported by her 20 years working within childcare, including as president and CEO of the Gundoo Daycare Early Childhood Learning Centre.
She is also backed by a membership to the Qld ATSI Education & Training Advisory Committee, a body which provides advice to the Queensland government on educational matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Mrs Sandow has credited much of her success to her grandmothers who raised her, and her seven brothers.
#9 Stephen Bennett
Since becoming the LNP MP for the Burnett in 2021, Stephen Bennett has championed a number of causes, including flood mitigation and backing health service whistleblowers.
His previous roles within the government included opposition spokesman for child safety, the prevention of domestic and family violence, veterans and heritage protection and national parks. He was also a member of the Agriculture and Environment Committee.
Mr Bennett is district chairman of the local Rotary Youth Exchange program.
He has received several awards for his commitment to the community including an Australia Day Achievement Medal from Department of Public Works, Indigenous Training Torres Strait, and is a four time recipient of Rotary International’s Paul Harris Fellowship.
Through two degrees in public sector management he was able to rise from cutting railway sleepers to the politician he is today.
#8 Llew O’Brien
In his role as the Federal Member for Wide Bay, Llew O’Brien represents a big part of the region in Canberra and is therefore a key leader of the community.
The dedicated husband and family man was re-elected in 2022 after six years representing the Wide Bay in national parliament, and has played a key role in improving the Bruce Highway and other roads.
As a former police officer, Mr O’Brien backed the push to bring district duty officers to the region, understanding the distinct need for senior officers in the field.
“Llew O’Brien is the counterbalance to inner urban areas that keeps the parliament in check, otherwise all policy would be driven out of Canberra,” former National Party leader Barnaby Joyce said of his friend and colleague.
#7 Keith Pitt
In early September 2023, Hinkler MP Keith Pitt celebrated 10 years in office, after being re-elected at the 2022 election.
Mr Pitt has served in a number of roles including Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister, Assistant Minister Trade, Tourism and Investment and Minister Resources and Water.
He has overseen local and international concerns including the 68th Annual NATO Session in Madrid, Spain, as part of an Australian government delegation, and was given the opportunity to address the assembly.
Closer to home he has been the driving force behind a number of projects and upgrades, including a palliative care facility in Hervey Bay, Isis Highway works, the Hinkler AgTech Hub and the Royal Flying Doctor Service aviation training facility in Bundaberg.
#6 Deb Frecklington
In December 2018, Deb Frecklington made history as the first female leader to be elected to the merged Liberal National Party.
The State Member for Nanango is also the opposition spokesperson for water and construction of dams, and regional development and manufacturing.
Born in Miles, Mrs Frecklington is Kingaroy local who started her professional career as a lawyer after obtaining a Bachelor of Law at Queensland University of Technology.
In 2012, she entered politics when she was elected as the Member for Nanango and appointed assistant finance minister.
She rose through the ranks and in 2014, was appointed to the position of assistant minister to then premier, Campbell Newman.
Within a year she was re-elected and opposition spokesperson for agriculture, fisheries and forestry.
By 2016 she was deputy leader of the LNP, the following year she was re-elected for her third term as the Nanango MP, shortly after she became leader of the opposition, the first time in history both the state government and opposition were led by women.
While the position is now held by David Crisafulli, Mrs Frecklington continues to advocate for her region and her community.
#5 Colin Boyce
LNP Federal MP for Flynn Colin Boyce has been an outspoken advocate for regional communities across the Burnett.
He was elected into the position in June 2022, after serving as the state MP for Callide.
Mr Boyce has a rich history with representing his community including during his tenure as a councillor on the former Taroom Shire Council.
As a man with a working class background, he has spent time as a high-pressure pipe welder, ringer and plant operator/earthmoving contractor.
He has advocated for the businesses in small communities, and opposed the recent closure of the Biggenden NAB.
Mr Boyce has also advocated against federal and state initiatives including the Voice to Parliament and coal royalty tax hikes.
#4 Taliqua Clancy
As an Olympic athlete and the first Indigenous beach volleyball player to represent Australia, Taliqua Clancy is one of the Burnett’s most impressive exports.
The proud Wulli Wulli woman grew up more than 200km from the nearest ocean but the Kingaroy local has represented her country at two Olympic Games - Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo in 2020.
The women’s beach volleyball champ took out the silver at Tokyo, after years of making the 420km round trip from Kingaroy to Brisbane most weekends to compete in the sport.
Eventually the teenage Miss Clancy was scouted during a game of indoor volleyball at Kingaroy State High, talent-spotted by the Queensland Academy of Sport, and the rest is history.
She still represents her country community through her impressive social media fan base which includes more than 39,000 followers on Instagram.
#3 David Littleproud
Federal LNP MP for Maranoa David Littleproud oversees one of the largest federal electorates in the country, with the diverse region spanning 731,297sq km.
Mr Littleproud not only guides the electorate from the Granite Belt to the rich soils of the South Burnett, he is also leader for the National Party in Queensland.
Born and raised in Chinchilla, Mr Littleproud has a long history with the community including as a business owner and agribusiness advocate from Warwick to Nanango.
The former rural banker was also appointed opposition spokesman for agriculture in June 2022.
He has been an outspoken advocate for the slowing of Queensland's drive to renewable energy, including the controversial Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro scheme in Eungella.
Like many LNP members, he was vocal in his opposition to the Voice to Parliament referendum, a decision which recently brought heat to the MP after the Maranoa Indigenous community claimed he did not consult his own electorate before deciding to vote no.
#2 Georgie Somerset
South Burnett cattle farmer and a OAM Georgie Somerset is one of the most impressive and influential people in the state.
In her key role as the Queensland president of AgForce, Mrs Somerset has been a vocal representative for her region, calling on those in the Burnett to have their say on what is happening in the agricultural industry.
She was first elected to the position in 2018, following six years as director of the QRAA (now Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority) from 2011-2017.
Her list of impressive achievements and positions of influence does not end there.
Mrs Somerset spent time as a Royal Flying Doctor Service director, Children’s Health Queensland director, a Wide Bay Burnett Regional Development Australia committee member and South Burnett Community Leadership Program founding member.
She has long been recognised for her outspoken support of women in business and agriculture, including time spent as Queensland Rural, Regional and Remote Women’s Network president and National Foundation for Australian Women vice-president.
In 2020, she was awarded an OAM for her “significant service to primary industry, to women, and to the community”.
#1 Selwyn Cobbo
Queensland State or Origin hero Selwyn Cobbo is having a massive year and is a powerful role model to not only thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Wide Bay Burnett, but hundreds of thousands of rugby league enthusiasts of every age, sex and colour across Australia and the world.
Despite being one of the youngest people to make the 2023 Burnett Power 30 list, the 21-year-old Bronco and Maroon NRL star has become one of the region’s most influential expats ever.
The born and bred Cherbourg athlete has been credited for his toughness on the field, playing through injuries to become a superstar of the game.
Since taking on the Broncos and Maroon jerseys, he has also become a vocal supporter of flying the flag for First Nations people.
The Murgon State High School alum has a long history of breaking the mould, beginning as the first Indigenous school captain in the school’s 75-year history.
The homegrown hero began his rugby league journey by playing for the Under 6 Cherbourg Hornets, and has also gone on to play on the 2022 Indigenous All Stars squad.
While he has long said he hopes to emulate his Indigenous idols, which include Greg Inglis, he also has an impressive family tree to look back on.
His great great grandfather was Queensland cricket icon Eddie Gilbert, who famously dismissed Don Bradman for a duck at the Gabba in 1931.
In 2022, the Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council CEO Chatur Zala spoke highly of young Cobbo, who often makes the return to his home ground to support the community.
“We’ve seen a change in the town since Selwyn started playing for the Broncos and then at the State of Origin,” Mr Zala said.
“He is all about community and every time he’s here he’s talking to the kids, telling them ‘you need to be at school, you need to listen to your parents, and do the right thing’.”
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