Cancer, transplant survivor John Weiland puts up hand to run for council

He’s survived bone cancer and a liver transplant and now a Hervey Bay man has put his hand up to run for council.

Council candidate John Weiland is running for Division 7.

After surviving a liver transplant and a cancer battle, John Weiland is looking for a new challenge - running for the Fraser Coast Regional Council in Division 7.

The NDIS support coordinator is devoted to his family and to a career in community service and sees becoming a councillor as a natural progression.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” he said.

Mr Weiland, 42, lives in Division 7 with his wife and three children, who are aged 9, 7 and 1.

He is a bone cancer survivor and also underwent a liver transplant because of an autoimmune disease in 2016.

While it has been a difficult time, Mr Weiland said it had been “character building” to go through so much health-wise.

He said his cancer battle had made him focus on the important things in life, with his focus on integrity and family the most important things in his life.

Mr Weiland said he wanted to build a good life for his children and other families in the community.

In terms of what he wants to achieve as a councillor, Mr Weiland said his focus was on helping to build livable spaces and sustainable communities, but said he wasn’t anti-development and progress.

In particular, the sports precinct is an area he would like to see expand, with help from the state and federal governments.

Being involved with the grassroots of the community, Mr Weiland said it had given him a different perspective on the needs of those with disabilities and mental health struggles.

“I get to see who’s struggling in this community,” he said.

Mr Weiland said he worked full-time, had three kids and was not afraid to work.

He said he was also thick-skinned and not afraid of feedback or criticism.

Mr Weiland said he was looking forward to speaking to members of the Division 7 community about their priorities.

It comes as two more community members put their hands up to run for council.

Point Vernon’s Chris Pearse will stand for Division 6.

Chris Pearse is running as a Fraser Coast Council candidate.

He has been an outspoken opponent of the 21-storey development proposed to be built on the Esplanade at Torquay.

“It would dwarf and shade its surroundings,” Mr Pearse said.

He said the reason Torquay and Scarness were so appealing to people was because of the lack of high-rises and high-density buildings in the area.

Gregory Watts has also announced his candidacy for the Fraser Coast council.

He said he was running for Division 9 and would “strongly advocate for the ratepayers in the Hervey Bay area” if he was to be elected.

“I am now already involved in talking with ratepayers, to find out what their main interests and concerns may be,” Mr Watt said.

It comes as several others announced their candidacy for the council elections, including former councillor Rolf Light, who will run for Division 10, Sara Faraj, who will stand for Division 9, Michelle Byrne, who will run for Division 1, and Andrew Broad, a conservative politician who previously served as a Nationals MP for the Victorian seat of Mallee.

Division 9 councillor David Lee was last year announced as the LNP candidate to run against incumbent Labor Hervey Bay MP Adrian Tantari in October 2024, and will not contest the local government election.

Division 6 councillor David Lewis announced his retirement, while Division 5 councillor Jade Wellings confirmed she would not stand at the next election.