Fraser Coast’s most influential women revealed
Experts say women’s approaches to leadership differ in many important ways that can benefit organisations if they learn to harness them. Today we celebrate 35 of the most motivated, successful and inspirational women in our community.
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The Chronicle is celebrating the most inspirational, influential and visionary Fraser Coast women of 2021.
They are the women who have helped lead this region through another year of the pandemic, snap lockdowns, vaccinations, masks and public debate.
They are CEOs, volunteers, businesswomen, teachers, farmers, influencers and everything else in between.
Nominations flooded in when the Chronicle asked the community to highlight women who deserved to be celebrated.
Here they are, in no particular order, the Fraser Coast’s 35 Women of Influence of 2021:
JANET PERSAL
Fifteen years ago Fraser Coast business legend Warren Persal raised an eyebrow when his daughter Janet showed a keen interest in his hotels.
The Persal and Co. company had expanded from its thriving power transmission base to include hotel and equipment hire investments at home but Mr Persal had always insisted that his three children went out in the world “to work it out for yourself” before joining the family businesses.
Janet became a schoolteacher but took a keen interest in the two hotels remodelled by Persal and Co., the Beach House in Hervey Bay and the Carriers Arms in Maryborough. In true Persal style she learnt the business from the bottom up and now oversees the businesses on the home front while brother Brian manages the power line construction arm.
Her journey to become a widely respected, popular and successful business leader on the Fraser Coast has not been easy. She was shattered by the sudden death of her loved father and mentor in 2017 and worked tirelessly to meet the challenges of the Covid-19 epidemic.
She was able to draw on lessons learned early in life when she lived in caravans with mother Raelene and her brothers to be near their father as he battled through rugged country to take power to remote mine sites and settlements.
Hard work, honesty and a determination to get the job done were embedded into the family’s life.
Janet’s influence and respect also comes from embodying the Persal style of combining a tough, astute streak with compassion. Individuals have been quietly helped to cross bridges in hard times. The brands of the two hotels and equipment hire inspired loyalty through sponsorship of causes that made the Fraser Coast community a better place.
STEPH MULHERON
Hervey Bay mum and social media identity Steph Mulheron was a champion of the hit reality television show My Kitchen Rules in 2013.
Since then Steph and her husband Dan have opened wildly successful Fraser Coast businesses and still run Eat.
After a gruelling battle with IVF, they welcomed their daughter Emmy.
Along the way, Steph shared her inspirational story, giving other women facing fertility struggles a voice.
The couple now stars in their own television show, Travel and Eat with Dan and Steph.
The aim is to take viewers on an international food journey, while visiting regional areas across Queensland.
They have more than 108,000 followers on Facebook.
CECILIA HYNES
Celie is a Tinana Hockey Club stalwart, but decades before she helped start and develop the club, which will celebrate 50 years next month, she was a young rookie in North Queensland.
Her hockey journey started as a 16-year-old in Mt Isa, before a move to Ayr courtesy of her father‘s employment in the rail industry saw Celie start her first team.
“Then I came here and got involved very, very, very, much,” Celie said.
In 2018, she was named the Fraser Coast’s Sportsperson of the Year at 100 years-of-age.
The award recognised her long-term love for hockey, both for her beloved Tinana and the Maryborough District Hockey Association.
That involvement started with a knock on the door.
“Fifty years ago, a gentleman came to the door and said ‘I believe you have a lot of daughters, I want to start a hockey team’,” Celie recalled.
“That chap bowed out that year and I took over.
“I worked hard. I used to go around from house-to- house to get players.”
KAREN BOULTON
Karen Boulton hopes to one day represent the Heritage City as a government Minister.
The aspiring politician and Youth Ambassador for Maryborough spoke candidly of her experience overcoming disabilities and personal setbacks when she received the Young Citizen of the Year award at the weekend.
In 2019, she was named the Fraser Coast’s Young Citizen of the Year.
With the political experience under her belt, Karen said she hoped to establish a youth support centre in the Fraser Coast with the help of the region‘s local, state and federal members.
She made headlines last year after representing the Maryborough region at the Queensland Youth Parliament, where she spoke on the introduction of cannabis.
KATHRYN CAMPBELL
Kathy Campbell, a board member of Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service, is an experienced non-executive director.
Her directorships include Brisbane North Primary Health Network and Uniting AgeWell.
Kathy also served five years on the boards of UnitingCare Queensland and the Gladstone Area Water Board prior to moving to Canada.
Kathy held executive roles in the health sector, including with public and private providers, consulting firms and vendors. She currently runs her own boutique digital health consulting firm.
She is a qualified accountant, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Digital Health and inaugural Chair of their Precision Health Community of Practice.
Kathy has also completed Leadership Strategies for Information Technology in Health Care at Harvard University.
NANCY BATES
Best known as the former editor of the Fraser Coast Chronicle, she was the driving force behind the region‘s namesake and some of its greatest legacies.
In 1996 she was Queensland Telstra Businesswoman of the Year and in 2015, she was named Fraser Coast Citizen of the Year.
Using “her skills as an author to promote the city”, Ms Bates published a book about Maryborough‘s Mary Anne, the first steam train to be built in Queensland – a replica can often be seen running joy rides through Queen’s Park – and is patron of the Proud Marys, a group which promotes Maryborough as the birthplace of Mary Poppins author P.L. Travers.
The group hosts the Mary Poppins Literacy Awards which, as a result of Ms Bates‘ promotion, attracts entrants from across the state.
The crowd heard that through Ms Bates‘ efforts, $60,000 was raised in six weeks to have the Mary Poppins statue built in Richmond St. She was also recognised for her current efforts in having a fitting memorial of Maryborough war hero Duncan Chapman, the first Anzac shore at Gallipoli, built in time for the Anzac Centenary celebrations.
Ms Bates said Australia and Maryborough had been “very good” to her and thanked her family for ”putting up with an awful lot”, acknowledging that once she had a project in mind, she did ”tend to go a little overboard”.
She also encouraged the community to love their region, take the time to see and explore it, contribute to it and “never forget to have fun while you are doing it”.
KASEY HANNANT
Kacey’s career has been with the Department of Education for 20 years, having experience in roles such as administration officer, executive services officer, payroll services officer, senior finance officer and OneSchool regional liaison officer.
She is currently a business manager at Urangan State High School as well as the State Vice President for the School Business Managers Association of Queensland as well about being on the Hervey Bay Chamber of Commerce committee.
Kacey likes to ask for forgiveness rather than permission and likes to cut as much red tape as possible.
Her speciality is streamlining processes and creating wicked checklists.
She also loves to coach, support and mentor other school business managers throughout the state.
XANTHE O’CONNOR
n 2020, Xanthe O’Connor achieved her ultimate goal with the creation of the Hearts and Hands Signing Choir.
It’s an all-inclusive, all abilities choir that welcomes people from all walks of life and has provided a sense of community among the group.
She recently won the Individual Achievement Award for Autism Queensland’s “Creative Future” Awards, this has also seen her efforts recognised in the media.
She is an inspiration to her peers and the broader community for her enthusiasm and “go get it” attitude.
She confidently welcomes everyone to choir every Monday night, marks the role and participates in all choir decisions.
Xanthe’s role with the choir is entirely of a volunteer capacity.
She recently graduated Hervey Bay Special School as 2020 School Captain.
During her last year of education Xanthe was able to manage a full school schedule, intensive speech therapy and choir rehearsals and performances.
Xanthe is also a committee member of Special Needs Fraser Coast.
This year she was named the Young Cultural Award winner at the annual Fraser Coast Australia Day Awards.
HEATHER JEPPESON
For more than 40 years Heather Jeppeson has been a driving force in organising entertainment for the community.
Heather is the ultimate quiet achiever in this field, never in the limelight, just making it happen and raising thousands of dollars for those in need.
Heather is the epitome of a true organiser- she has a vision and proceeds to organise singers, bands, raffles, catering and venues, selects the appropriate charity for the benefits and then gets on with it.
She is a great leader and fantastic role model for the younger generation.
For the past six years Eureka Country Music Group has been her base and during this period thousands of dollars have been raised by her efforts.
DEBORAH CARROLL
Deborah, the chief executive of Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service, has worked in the public health sector for almost 40 years and has held leadership roles across a number of health facilities throughout Queensland.
She has undertaken significant postgraduate studies, including a Masters of Health Administration and Information Systems, and a Graduate Certificate in Health Service Planning.
Deborah completed her general nurse training in 1981 at Mackay Base Hospital, where she was acknowledged both for outstanding theoretical knowledge and nursing care.
She later gained a Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing) with Distinction from Central Queensland University in 1995, a Graduate Diploma in Emergency Nursing and endorsement as a Rural and Isolated Practice registered nurse.
Deborah joined WBHHS in 2006, as Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services. She was appointed Chief Operating Officer in 2014, a role that was renamed Executive Director of Acute Hospital and Community Services in 2018.
In 2008, Deborah was awarded a Queensland Health Australia Day Award for exceptional leadership and restoring community confidence, and again in 2014 for her exceptional leadership during the 2013 floods. In 2018, she was part of the team recognised at the WBHHS Excellence Awards for the highly successful Procurement Optimisation Project, and in 2020 she has played a leading role in the organisation’s response to Covid pandemic.
DANIELLE ASKEW
Danielle harnessed the power of a good joke and turned it into a beam of positivity for more than a million people.
Last year when the state went into lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, Danielle donned a costume, created a Facebook page called ‘Bin Isolation Outing’ and posted a photo of herself taking out her garbage dressed as Elsa from Frozen.
Soon, hundreds of thousands of others from across the world were posting similar photos, using the page as a way to connect while they were socially isolated.
She brought together a global community united by fear of Covid-19 but a need for reducing the social isolation attached.
Since creating the page Danielle has spent thousands of hours moderating the page.
She put Hervey Bay in the global spotlight as the page exploded, gaining national and international media attention.
On the page people discussed visiting the region after finding out about it through the page.
GAIL GAULD
Gail Gauld has given 25 years of exceptional service to the Brooweena community.
In May 1995, Gail was elected secretary of the Woocoo Historical Society, a position she held for the next 25 years.
For a period she held the treasurer’s position when there was no-one else to take on the role and is now president of the Society.
Many times the Woocoo Historical Society has struggled to fill positions on its committee but the tenacity and sacrifice of Gail has kept the organisation running.
She has done the work associated with other positions in the Society when the person was unable to fulfil their duties.
Gail was the secretary of the Teebar Management Committee and Teebar Hall caretaker for nine years.
On November 15, 2020, she was awarded the prestigious Centenary Medal by the Royal Historical Society of Queensland for contributing exceptionally to the history and heritage of Queensland, the same day she was awarded Life Membership of the Woocoo Historical Society.
All this organising is done without a mobile phone or computer, with Gail writing everything in her neat longhand or beautiful printing, including meeting minutes, invitations, thank yous, funding applications, and drafts for publications.
CARMEL MURDOCH
From dressing up as Mary Poppins, the Merry Widow or Mary Heritage, Carmel has taken on a number of roles to promote the region.
Along with her efforts to dress up and promote the town, Carmel is also a member of the Proud Marys, the Maryborough Zonta Club and the local historical society and supports many other local causes.
Her roles as Marys have brought her a lot of joy and community recognition and she has earned legendary status in the local community.
In 2013, Mrs Murdoch was named Fraser Coast Citizen of the Year by the council, an accolade she said left her “tickled pink”.
After announcing her retirement this year, the council is looking for someone new to take on the role.
Hers will certainly be big shoes to fill.
PEITA BATES
Since starting her career just four years ago, Maryborough High School teacher Peita Bates has developed and delivered a variety of programs covering grades five through to 12 including a ‘Coding as a Language’ curriculum, a specialist Coding Academy, a ‘Robocademy’ extra-curricular program and an outreach program to local primary schools delivering coding and technology activities.
Peita has achieved outstanding levels of success for herself, students, school and community by understanding student needs and community expectations. She has the ability to build rapport with students in a way that works for them.
Her work have been recognised by organisations such as Women In Technology and EduTech, highlighting the outstanding work of regional schools and communities and obtaining sponsorships/partnerships for major events.
Peita’s strategies have successfully drawn in students, kept them engaged and motivated to achieve.
Peita continues to conduct significant research into new technologies to ensure the information being delivered to students is of the highest quality.
FIONA SEWELL
Fiona has more than 30 years’ experience in nursing, more than 15 of which has been spent in senior leadership roles.
She completed her nursing training at Maryborough Base Hospital in 1990 before gaining further experience in other Queensland public and private healthcare facilities.
Fiona moved back to the Wide Bay region in 1994, joining Bundaberg Hospital as a registered nurse. Since then her career trajectory has carried her swiftly through a diverse range of senior nursing roles at both clinical and managerial levels.
In 2019, Fiona led the trial of Ready Every Day Nursing, an innovative approach to the provision of everyday nursing excellence, through a model that combined daily nursing standard evaluation with tailored growth and development support. The outcomes have demonstrated significant and ongoing improvement in nursing standards.
Fiona has also been instrumental in providing leadership and direction throughout WBHHS’s response to COVID-19. As the Operations Officer in the response, she led the Operations Management Team, developing and implementing vital stewardship in Infection Control and Personal Protective Equipment, along with providing leadership and support to all COVID-19 portfolio holders.
TANYA STEVENSON
Currently the chief executive officer of the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre, Tanya is renowned for her compassion for the community and ability to deliver on projects.
Tanya has an undergraduate in Psychology and a Masters in Education.
She was named Young Business Person of the year in 2012 on the Fraser Coast and Young Alumni of the year for USQ in 2013.
Tanya has led the strategic expansion of the HBNC to include the implementation of the Fraser Coast Community Social Plan and the development of the Neighbourhood Hive and Urangan Wellness Centre as well as their first social enterprise The Wandering Teapot.
Tanya is a long-term community member of the Fraser Coast and has worked in the community sector for over 20 years.
SANDRA HOLEBROOK
With more than 20 years of commercial business experience, Hervey Bay Chamber of Commerce president Sandra Holebrook has acquired a wide-reaching portfolio of skills and experience forged from holding financial, operational, and general management and director roles in a diverse range of sectors including retail, distribution, wholesaling, and manufacturing.
Sandra is passionate about using her unique skills in developing, supporting, and assisting Hervey Bay‘s business community to flourish.
JILL PERRY
Jill Perry is a pioneer of the Hervey Bay whale watching industry.
For 30 years, she and her husband Brian nurtured an industry that would end up giving employment to hundreds of people across the region.
The industry they helped build is now worth an estimated $90 million per year to the region’s economy.
The Perrys retired in 2017, selling their business to their friend, John Peaker.
Brian sadly passed away in July last year. Jill continues to make a valuable contribution to the region’s tourism board and was a key player in getting Hervey Bay officially recognised as the whale watching capital of the world.
PETA JAMIESON
The chairwoman of the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service has worked with the Queensland Government, Brisbane City Council, private sector and the Local Government Association of Queensland over the past 20 years.
She has a breadth of executive and operational experience, and an understanding of how government policies and processes work.
Peta led negotiations on behalf of all councils while at the LGAQ for the development of Queensland’s first Environmental Protection Act. She also managed the initial formation of the Chief Executive Officers’ Forum, working collaboratively on regional projects as part of the Council of Mayors of South East Queensland.
Peta was a driver of the micro-economic reform of local governments while working for the Queensland Government, with a focus on financial sustainability and capacity-building campaigns for all councils.
Since moving back to the region, she has established her own management consultancy service, Luminous Project Services. Through this, she delivers a range of economic development, leadership and advocacy services for the public and private sector.
Peta is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration, Master of Science in Environmental Management and Bachelor of Arts (Honours).
As part of her role, she Chairs the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Board’s Executive Committee and is a member of the Audit and Risk, Safety and Quality and Finance Committees.
She is also a Director on the Gladstone Ports Corporation Board and a member of its Governance, Risk and Compliance Committee and People, Performance and Culture Committee.
KARLA STEEN
Hervey Bay’s Karla Steen, board member at Wide Bay Hospital and Health Centre, is a communications and marketing strategist and social program developer with extensive experience within media, community and economic development organisations, government agencies and industry groups.
As a former journalist, Karla worked across radio and television outlets in north Queensland including ABC Radio and Chanel 10. She then served as a Queensland government ministerial media adviser across various portfolios such as Emergency Services, Child Safety and Communities.
In recent years, Karla developed a number of regional programs aimed at supporting women in areas of under-representation within STEM, small business, mining and sport.
Karla co-founded the award-winning IAM (Inspiring an Active Mackay) program which was named the winner of the ‘Inclusion’ category for the Queensland Government’s ‘Start Playing, Stay Playing award for Excellence’ in 2018.
She now works with the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre to deliver programs aimed at addressing social isolation and improving mental health outcomes as part of the COVID-19 recovery and is a Committee Member of both the WBHHS Board Audit & Risk Committee and Safety & Quality Committee.
As a cancer survivor, Karla is a passionate advocate for regional and rural health service delivery.
Karla previously served on the Mackay Hospital and Health Service Board and recently completed research into regional participation on government boards.
APRIL SPADINA
Her works adorn the streetscapes of Maryborough, admired by locals and visitors alike.
A charcoal artist based in the beautiful Fraser Coast in Queensland, April Spadina has been a productive artist and creative for most of her life, studying art at James Cook University and playing with many mediums until she fell totally in love with charcoal.
April developed her own loose style, recognisable by her animals with enchanting eyes and playful images of giraffes and primates, along with any animal that pulls her heart strings.
Having sold many pieces both nationally and internationally, April has had a number of exhibitions and continues to be heavily involved in community arts projects and local street art.
AUNTY FRANCES GALA
Galangoor Duwalami Primary Healthcare has been providing for our community since 2008.
But while the first clinic officially opened then, the ambitious dream took seed long before that.
It was the drive of Aunty Frances Gala and Aunty Coralie Ober, and their deep concerns for the indigenous communities of Hervey Bay and Maryborough that marked the beginning of an incredible journey as far back as 2002.
“This has been the dream, the strategy of the Korrawinga Aboriginal Corporation for 30 years but we had a great many other things to get going like housing, jobs and the resurrection of language and culture,” they said.
Galangoor Duwalami is now the second largest Aboriginal Medical Service in Queensland with nearly 50 staff.
KIM CARTER
Kim Carter, principal of Carter Cooper Realty, is an industry professional who has been achieving record results in the Hervey Bay property market for more than 20 years.
In addition to this Kim has a hands-on approach in ensuring that the Hervey Bay real estate market is represented strongly on a state and national level.
Kim currently holds the position of the Zone Chair for the Real Estate Institute of Queensland and is an executive committee member for the Fraser Coast Property Industry Association.
Kim is a trustworthy and highly educated agent and with the support of a team of administrators, experienced assistants and marketing professionals ensures she offers superior service like no other.
Kim’s approach is hands on, offering expert advice through the entire sales process to go above and beyond to achieve outstanding results for their clients.
As a licensed real estate agent armed with superior market knowledge.
BARB HOVARD
She’s served as the mayor of Maryborough and worked tirelessly for her region.
So it was no surprise when, after years of volunteer work and local government service as mayor and then a councillor, Maryborough‘s Barbara Hovard was awarded an Order of Australia Medal.
“Volunteering has been part of my life since I was a schoolgirl,” she said.
Ms Hovard has volunteered for the Community Access Bus, Maryborough and Wide Bay Burnett Historical Society, Cancer Council and Rotary International, along with many others.
She also served as the deputy chair of the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service.
Ms Hovard plans to spend the rest of her life in the heritage city.
LINDA HARRIS
The former Tiaro mayor has been a tireless advocate for her community.
But even after dedicating years of her life to public service, Linda continues to advocate for Tiaro and fight for the best for the township.
With the town set to be bypassed in coming years, Linda, has been part of the team making sure Tiaro will continue to thrive through the changes.
She is part of the Community Working Group helping to produce a plan to reinvent the town in a post-bypass world, with the goal of ensuring no businesses will have to close.
ANNE MADDERN
A woman with a huge passion for Maryborough, Anne Maddern has served the city both as a member of the State Government and on the council.
She was elected to the council in 2016 after serving as State Member for Maryborough from 2012 to 2015.
During her time as councillor, Anne was committed to making the outlying parts of the region felt included.
“When I was elected I realised a lot of the smaller communities felt isolated and as though they were not a part of the region,” she said.
“My goal was to make sure they were included and make a connection between them and their council.
“They have most of the same issues as the general population like roads, rates, garbage and water.
“There is still work to do and I am very happy with the progress and I would like to see it continue on.”
When she made the decision to retire, Anne said
she was proud of setting up the small communities advisory groups which meet quarterly and provide training and information sessions.
VERONICA BIRD
The chair of the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation, Veronica Bird, has been among those who have fought for native title rights for decades.
The organisation has celebrated big wins in recent times, including the opening of an interpretative centre on Fraser Island, to which is had lent its knowledge and culture, and the renaming of Fraser Island to its traditional name, K’gari.
Veronica has been a strong leader for the indigenous community and spoke about the recent achievements after the island was renamed.
The return of the traditional name was the culmination of a drawn-out fight on the part of Traditional Owners.
“(This has been) a long-time call from Butchulla Elders, many of whom were present,” she said.
“Some of them, unfortunately, did not to see this come to fruition like so many of our battles, because it‘s such a long journey.”
JOYCE CHORNY
For years, Joyce Chorny was the driving force behind Hervey Bay Community Centre.
Now retired, Joyce poured her heart and soul into it for 20 years.
In 2000, it became obvious the small spaces that housed the centre were not big enough.
Joyce dreamt of a big new purpose-built centre.
Over the ensuing decade, she campaigned tirelessly through fundraising and lobbying to bring the new centre to fruition.
The centre provides a range of services to the community and is part of Joyce’s lasting legacy.
JADE WELLINGS
Motherhood was the inspiration behind Jade Wellings’ council candidacy last year.
The mother of three secured Division Five with 60.36 per cent of the vote and was the only woman to be elected.
Jade’s resume includes a business degree and significant management experience in real estate, fitness and a network of worker’s and holiday accommodation, and says that “regardless of gender it is an absolute honour to be representing my community and I am humbled by the support I received during the election”.
She is however, acutely aware of the position she finds herself in.
“I feel a responsibility to women, and in particular young women, to be a good leader, a strong voice and to demonstrate that you can be a good mother and also do meaningful work at the same time,” she said.
BONNIE QUINN-HENNESSE
In 2018, young ballerina Bonnie Quinn-Hennessey and her teacher Pamela Marshall claimed the cultural awards at the Fraser Coast Regional Council’s Australia Day Awards.
During her impressive career, Bonnie Has represented the Fraser Coast in Australia Ballet School and won the 2015 Suncorp Wish Upon a Ballet Star competition.
She is now with the Queensland Ballet Academy.
Bonnie remains a big fan of her first teacher.
When she received the Cultural Award in 2018, she said she loved working with kids and bringing them into the world of arts.
FIONA FOLEY
Butchulla author and artist Fiona Foley recently won the Queensland Premier’s Literary award for her book, Biting the Clouds.
The book explores the use of opium to coerce labour from Indigenous people at the turn of the 20th century, told in dialogue between Foley’s art and text.
The prize recognises “an outstanding work, by an Australian writer, focused on documenting, discussing or highlighting a uniquely Queensland story.”
The book is an extension of Foley’s doctorate – awarded in 2018 – which she said was part of “a lifelong search” to find out what happened to the Badtjala people of Fraser Island.
Biting the Clouds examines the effects on Badtjala people of the ideology and actions of Archibald Meston, Protector of the Aborigines from 1898 to 1903, and the Anglican church that ran the missions on which they were sequestered, coupled with the use of opium as a means of “payment” for Indigenous labour.
CARLIE WALKER
Fraser Coast Chronicle senior reporter Carlie Walker is part of the furniture here.
She‘s based in Granville on the banks of the Mary River.
Her passion topics include social issues reporting including on the Cashless Debit Card, youth suicide, Butchulla history and Fraser Island’s dingoes.
Carlie is known for the care and empathy she shows when people let her into their lives to tell their stories and she‘s broken some of the biggest stories in the Chronicle’s recent history.
JESSICA GREWAL
News Corp Australia’s Wide Bay News Director Jessica Grewal was a Hervey Bay High girl, who was lucky enough to score a full cadetship back when regional newsrooms still offered accredited four-year on-the-ground training stints without requiring you to ever step foot in a university lecture theatre.
A bustling newsroom led by the legendary Nancy Bates was an enviable training ground for budding journos.
Wise sub-editors weren’t afraid to tell you when something didn’t cut it but were also there to help guide you through confronting crimes and car accidents, including one where a former classmate had been killed, and a series on the ice epidemic in local high schools which resulted in a Clarion Award for Queensland Young Journalist of the Year.
Like most young reporters she had her eyes set on the city and, in 2011, she was selected to launch APN‘s Sydney Newsdesk, reporting on the court cases and political debates which were shaping the regions where the company had NSW titles from Coffs Harbour to the Queensland border.
Among these were articles which scored nominations in the Kennedy Awards for NSW Court Reporter of the Year, Most Outstanding Indigenous Affairs Reporting and Young Journalist of the Year.
She went on to become the Business & Regional Affairs Reporter for the Australian – a role which took her around Queensland covering everything from the collapse of Clive Palmer‘s Queensland Nickel in Townsville to the search for the elusive night parrot on a cattle station in the outback.
Jessica returned to the Fraser Coast Chronicle as deputy editor then took the reigns as editor in early 2019.
She was recently promoted to the role of Wide Bay News Director, overseeing the Fraser Coast Chronicle, Gympie Times and Bundaberg NewsMail alongside Wide Bay Editor Shelley Strachan.
BROOKE FLOOD
The officer in charge at Hervey Bay‘s police station believes major changes in the service have helped validate women’s presence within the force.
Speaking to the Fraser Coast Chronicle on International Women’s Day 2020 Senior Sergeant Brooke Flood said she believed she would not have been able to secure the role she has now when starting her career 20 years ago.
“During my career I have often been the only woman stationed at a particular watch-house, but a lot has changed in that time. We are all equal now,” Sen-Sgt Flood told the Chronicle.
She said the appointment of Katarina Carroll as Queensland Police Commissioner was proof women could climb to any position within the ranks.
Sen-Sgt Flood has worked as an officer in charge for about eight years in total at several stations. “Being a police officer is good, honest work,” she said.
She encouraged young women who enjoyed assisting their communities to consider joining the service.
“The job is something you can do and really make a difference,” Sen-Sgt Flood said.
The Bay‘s top cop said the public often preferred to deal with female officers.
“This is especially the case with domestic violence and sexual abuse cases where the victims are generally women,” she said.
JEMIMA NASH
After a trip to Mexico the passionate voyager knew she wanted to bring those amazing tastes to her hometown.
At 29, she became the proud owner of a vibrant restaurant on the Esplanade Tres Salsas which has not only survived Covid-19 but also continues to be one of the most popular dining destinations in the Bay.
Scoring her first hospitality gig at McDonald’s as a 14-year-old she went on to work at some of Hervey Bay’s top eating destinations as well as an invaluable two-year stint in London.
Jemima recently became a mum and is a key member of the evolving young hospitality set where she and the likes of Scott and Jason from Odyssey Bistro and helping take the Fraser Coast foodie scene to the next level.
TARA BRADBURY
Tara arrived on the real estate scene in 2002 and went on build a BDM empire, touring Australia and New Zealand as a motivational speaker on rent roll growth.
In 2019 she set up Active Agents on the Fraser Coast and is a key member of the Fraser Coast Property Industry Association which advocates on behalf of the property sector and has a seat at the table in important decisions which shape the future of the Fraser Coast.
She’s taken out a number of titles at awards ceremonies over the years and in 2019 was named in the Elite Agent’s Top 50 Industry Influencers.
She and husband Shane live in Hervey Bay with daughters Isabelle and Sienna.
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