Power 30: Fraser Coast’s most influential people 2023
Who are the Fraser Coast’s ultimate powerbrokers, the heavy hitters shaping our region and, to an extent, our lives? Today we reveal the top 10 most influential of 2023.
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They’re the movers, shakers and makers of the Fraser Coast, and are playing a huge part in how it is overcoming the lingering challenges of the pandemic and shaping up for the future.
Today we reveal who are the top 10 most influential people of 2023.
Power 30: Fraser Coast’s most influential people 2023 Part 1
This list is a subjective talking point, not a scientific guide. It is a way of celebrating and thanking those who are achieving big things, exerting their influence and or power, and moving our region into a prosperous future.
Power 30: Fraser Coast’s most influential people 2023 Part 2
We welcome feedback from the public.
10. Keith Pitt
Hinkler MP Keith Pitt celebrated 10 years in office in September, 2023, following his 2022 re-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 Mr Pitt 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.
9. Llew O’Brien
In his role as the Federal Member for Wide Bay, Llew O’Brien represents a significant size 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 Wide Bay in parliament.
He has played a key role in improving the Bruce Hwy and other roads and as a former police officer, Mr O’Brien also backed a push to bring district duty officers to the region.
“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.
8. Jade Wellings
An alumnus of St Mary’s College in Maryborough, Jade Wellings already had a highly successful business career before announcing her intentions to run in the 2020 Fraser Coast Regional Council elections.
Graduating from The University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Business in 2003, Ms Wellings’ resume includes a business degree and significant management experience in real estate, fitness and a network of workers and holiday accommodation.
Her main roles within her career have included being the principal of Wide Bay Prestige Properties from 2005 to 2011 and being the corporate service manager at AAOK Park from 2014 to 2020.
The mother of three secured Division 5 with 60.36 per cent of the vote and was the only woman to be elected. She says that “regardless of gender it is an absolute honour to be representing my community“.
Division 5 stretches from Toogoom to Eli Waters and is home to about 6,500 people.
7. Robi Jan
Maryborough’s Robi Jan is an emerging fashion model and content creator with about 334,000 followers on Instagram and 561,000 subscribers on YouTube.
Ms Jan initially followed in her father’s footsteps by studying dentistry, but she dropped that to commit to modelling and content creation and currently lives in Miami.
Ms Jan’s content centres around giving styling tips for her audience, diary entries about her daily life and conversations regarding her Christian faith.
She says she is passionate about helping women feel and look their best, building their confidence and helping them step into a version of themselves they wish to become.
She has collaborated with numerous brands including Zara, MAC Cosmetics and Flybrow.
She is currently dating Alex Costa, an American influencer who has more than two million followers on Instagram.
6. Trinity McGarvie
Trinity McGarvie has been a solicitor since 2001 and in 2019 was appointed to the Magistrates Court of Queensland in 2019.
Before her appointment Ms McGarvie worked as an articled clerk and solicitor at Milburn Guttridge, as well as in regional Legal Aid Queensland offices and Suthers Lawyers in Maryborough.
She also worked as a senior associate at Hervey Bay firm Geldard Sherrington Lawyers.
Ms McGarvie excelled during her studies at Bond University graduating as the top female law graduate in 1999.
5. John Milburn
Experienced lawyer and legal professional John Milburn was the principal of law firms McCarthy Milburn, Milburn Guttridge and Milburn’s Law for 32 years.
Following this he spent four years as a barrister before taking on his current role as magistrate of the Magistrates Court of Queensland on May 23, 2022.
He currently presides over the Maryborough Magistrate Court.
Between all of this, Mr Milburn mentored the next generation of lawyers through his work as a unit co-ordinator and lecturer at Central Queensland University for a decade.
He also spent the 11 years prior to his magistrate appointment as a sessional member of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
He has previously served as the president of the Fraser Coast Law Society.
4. Anne Volger
Wide Bay Superintendent Anne Volger traded a teaching career for the police force at the age of 23 in 1994.
The Wide Bay Burnett District Officer served as general duties police at the beginning of her career until 1999 when she was promoted to an investigator role in the State Crime Operations Branch.
During her service, Superintendent Vogler has been the lead investigator for multiple high profile and complex matters, including murder investigations.
A press release to coincide
with her being awarded the Australian Police Medal on the King’s Birthday said Vogler “plays a genuine and authentic interest in the professional and personal development of others and their welfare”.
on the King’s Birthday said Vogler “plays a genuine and authentic interest in the professional and personal development of others and their welfare”.
3. Aunty Karen Hall
Longtime community activist Aunty Karen Hall has been educating the Fraser Coast community and beyond about the ways and the culture of the Butchulla people for many years.
She is experienced in the arts industry and is skilled in work relating to non-profit organisations, lesson planning, curriculum development, public speaking, and facilitation.
Her work within the Indigenous Education Community Support sector for 31 years means Aunty Karen is as well-spoken as anybody on the issues affecting First Nations people.
She, Christine Royan and other members of the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation have been the leaders of the campaign for the return of K’gari land to the Butchulla people.
2. Linda Behrendorff
There is never a boring day on K’gari for head ranger Linda Behrendorff as she takes care of the dingo population while doing what she can to keep visitors safe.
The passion for working with animals has been with Ms Behrendorff from a young age when she was “the girl who rescued any baby bird that fell from the nest”.
Her visits to K’gari as a child inspired Ms Behrendorff to study a Wilderness Reserves and Wildlife diploma which after a surprise phone call landed her a casual role on the island. This year marks her 23rd year on the island.
Her passion to learn more about the local dingo population led her to undertake a PhD on Dingo diet, ecology and management on Fraser Island (K‘gari) at The University of Queensland.
Among the many animals, she has taken under her care, “Monster” a rescued squirrel glider and “Shel” a Southern Giant Petrel stand out for her.
She says “If we all work together, we can make a difference for the island”.
1. George Seymour
In May 2018, George Seymour was elected Mayor of the Fraser Coast, after six years of service as the Division 10 councillor.
Before his service on the council began, Mr Seymour worked a variety of community-based roles including as a Legal Aid solicitor, and a disability support worker and ran the youth homeless shelter.
These jobs made Mr Seymour “very aware of the social issues in my community” and encouraged him to want to make a difference.
Mr Seymour serves on numerous council committees including the Heritage Advisory Committee, Local Disaster Management Group, the Roads and Transport Alliance and Regional Capital Australia, among numerous others.
Mr Seymour says the “strongest and most binding value” of the Fraser Coast community is kindness and residents want to see each other achieve their full potential.
His goal as mayor is to ensure the Fraser Coast is a vibrant, healthy and active community.
District Court sittings at Hervey Bay, November 20
Here is a list of District Court sittings at Hervey Bay on November 20
Everybody appearing at Maryborough Magistrates Court, Wednesday, November 20
Here is a list of matters listed at Maryborough Magistrates Court on Wednesday.