30 of Gladstone’s most influential figures of 2023 I VOTE NOW
VOTE NOW: These influential Gladstone figures are shaping the region. But which community-minded local person has the biggest influence? You decide.
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Made up of more than 60,000 people of vastly different backgrounds, cultures and occupations, Gladstone is overflowing with a variety of talented, prominent figures and up and coming young guns shaping the town’s future.
However they share one trait, a love for the region.
In no particular order, meet our top 30 of Gladstone’s most influential figures of 2023 below.
Scroll to the bottom of the list to tell us who you believe is having the biggest influence.
See the list then vote below.
Dr Gaston Boulanger
Dr Gaston Boulanger is a well-established medical and community figure in the Boyne Island and Tannum Sands region.
Originating from the Netherlands, Gaston and his wife Nicole Dickhaut have owned and managed BITS Medical since they built the practice in 2008, and are both strong advocates for community health and better medical services in the region.
Gaston and Nicole have recently opened a new training facility adjoining their existing medical centre.
This was prompted by a lack in medical services in the region, and Gaston said that the reason for this was largely to help retain medical staff in the region.
He is also known for his involvement as the founder of the annual Under The Trees festival in Boyne Island, and currently sits on the organising committee for the music and arts festival, as well as being a notable musician in a handful of local bands.
Jemma Manwaring
Previously a teacher in the region, Jemma is best known for fiercely advocating for the reinstatement of maternity and birthing services at the Gladstone Hospital when a bypass was put in place.
Over the past 12 months, Jemma has appeared on national news, spoken with notable members of parliament, and fearlessly represented members of the community.
Jemma’s argument for the resumption of maternity services in Gladstone was motivated by her own positive experience at Gladstone Hospital, and her desire for other families to share in a similar experience.
She is currently advocating for the reinstatement of birthing services at Biloela Hospital.
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Bob McCosker
Entrepreneur, businessman, philanthropist and speedway driver, Bob McCosker wears many hats, and one helmet.
Not only the founder and managing director of McCosker Contracting, a local business servicing small and large industries around the region, Bob is also a passionate environmentalist.
He recently received the Queensland Environmental Philanthropist of the Year award for his conservation work at Quoin Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, which is managed by his partner Kim van Oudheusden.
His most recent accolade includes the construction of the McCosker Gladstone Speedway, which is anticipated to bring tourism dollars to the region.
Bob has also received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for ‘service to the community through a range of organisations’.
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Natalya Diehm
A born and bred Gladstone Olympian, Natalya made her BMX Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, with her sights now set on Paris 2024.
Natalya has been a keen BMX rider since she was a little girl at the Boyne Island skatepark, and is now representing her sport and her country on a global scale.
Natalya’s attendance at the Tokyo Olympics was part of the first Olympics BMX series, creating important representation for other young girls wanting to participate in the sport.
Natalya is hoping to make a comeback in Paris, after finishing in fifth place at the Tokyo Olympics with a brutal ACL rupture and undergoing multiple surgeries to get her back into fighting form for next year’s Olympics.
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Murray Chapman
When Murray Chapman turned 50, he began to realise his health was starting to decline as he struggled with activities he had long loved, such as surfing.
He made the decision to undertake the 34km English Channel swim to inspire himself to get back into good physical condition, which he achieved nine years later at the age of 59 following a strict training regimen under coach Tom Fronek.
Murray is one of less than 3000 people worldwide to have successfully completed the 12-hour ocean swim between England and France.
Murray also has an extensive history of competing in tough swims around the country.
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Brett Muggeridge
When Brett and his partner Ellie discovered their newborn daughter suffered from a complex undiagnosed genetic condition they struggled many months with their National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) package, so they made the decision to take matters into their own hands and open their own inclusion, training and support business, Lionheart.
Using Brett’s background in business and Ellie’s experience as a teacher, the pair set up a “micro-company for the purpose of training and employing support staff for their daughter”.
Lionheart’s focus is on inclusivity, and opening opportunities and decreasing stigma for people living with disabilities.
Brett and the team at Lionheart now independently provide care to children with complex disabilities throughout the Gladstone region.
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Tash Kocks
Tash’s mother and father founded Aussie Helpers in 2002 after living on the land and knowing how tough life could be in rural Australia.
Her parents wanted a real and tangible way to help people who had been through the same experiences as them so they started Aussie Helpers, which Tash inherited when her father passed away in 2020.
Since then, she and her team have helped thousands of farming families in rural Australia with issues like financial hardship, natural disasters and the mental health challenges that come with living in a rural area.
Tash and her team have raised more than $50 million to date for farmers across Australia, with a combination of fundraising events and charitable donations.
Tash’s parents, Brian and Nerida Egan, were both awarded with Order of Australia medals.
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Mick Daly
As president of the Gladstone Amateur Boxing Club (GABC) for 27 years, Mick has changed the lives of hundreds of young boxers and helped change their mindset of what it means to be tough.
When he started the GABC in 1996, Mick had no idea the lasting impression it would leave on young people in the region.
Mick became a father figure to many troubled young people who were struggling in their personal lives, and had nobody to support them.
Mick has helped create two Olympians and one Commonwealth Games medallist, as well as world champions and Australian champions.
In an interview in May, when Mick announced his retiring from the GABC, he said that starting a humble training centre had become a safe place for many, as well as somewhere that people could take their lives into their own hands.
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Dr Ali Young
Dr Ali Young is a chiropractor and writer who is heavily involved with empowering mums in the Gladstone community.
Ali works exclusively with mothers working in the healthcare industry, helping them to find balance in their professional and home lives.
She teaches programs for chiropractors on how to work with children, and has written extensively about managing business and family pressures.
Recently, Ali has been a huge advocate in reinstating maternity services in Gladstone, attending a rally outside Gladstone MP Glenn Butcher’s office in December 2022.
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Olivia Lester
Olivia Lester is a proud Gladstone netball coach and childcare worker.
Olivia has been a huge presence at the Curtis Coast Dolphins Netball Association (CCDNA) as a coach and umpire, and also their volunteer netball representative.
The Tannum Sands State High School graduate is also a passionate childcare worker at C & K Kindergarten in Gladstone.
Olivia was awarded as a recipient of the Gladstone Regional Council’s ‘Young Peoples Sport and Recreation Award’ in the 2023 Australia Day Awards.
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Bianca Duong
Bianca Duong is in Year 12 at Chanel College, and is the Gladstone member of the YMCA Queensland Youth parliament.
Bianca’s commitment to her community comes from a passion for vocalising issues that matter to young people.
While she is uncertain if she wants to pursue a career in politics, Bianca is certain that she wants to help give back to her community.
Bianca is passionate about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), having been a University of Queensland Science Ambassador, and also participating in the James Cook University (JCU) Heroes in Business program and the JCU Heroes in Health program.
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Wezley Pitt
Wezley Pitt is an all-round successful figure, heavily involved in the business sphere. He is a photographer and videographer, working at a number of events around the region.
He has worked for a number of high profile businesses and events, including the Best in Business awards, Rio Tinto, Queensland Government, and several national music festivals.
Wezley is a musician in several local bands and a volunteer on several local committees, including Under The Trees, Gladstone PAWS and various other events.
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Ping Carlyon
Ping Carlyon is a Gladstone-based artist with an enormous dedication to community art pieces and fostering a love of art in people around the region.
Ping currently runs all-abilities watercolour classes, and has been a part of community art projects like ‘Fly Into Art’; an exhibition piece at the Gladstone Airport, and most recently the ‘Postcards From Gladstone’ project on Auckland Street.
Ping has been working in Australia since she moved from Taiwan in 2007, and is incredibly involved in the local art community.
Ping has also displayed several exhibitions of work at the independent Gladstone-based gallery, the Blue Mirror.
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Archie Tennant
Archie Tennant is a young sporting superstar, known for his national involvement in athletics.
Archie currently attends high school in Gladstone, and in his involvement at national athletics competitions he has broken multiple records including triple and long jump, and various running distances.
He loves representing both his school and Queensland.
He was also nominated for Gladstone Regional Council’s Australia Day 2023 sport and recreation award.
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Matthew Cooke
Matthew Cooke is a proud First Nations man, based in the region. He has an extensive portfolio of business and not-for-profit ventures in the region, with a focus on First Nations peoples at a local level.
The Nhulundu Health Service CEO has recently undertaken a new venture with the launch of the First Nations Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) earlier this year, accompanied by an memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing with the Gladstone Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Matthew also sits on the board of directors for the Port Curtis Coral Coast Trust, and is a chairman at the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council.
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Aaron Schultz
Aaron Schultz is the founder of The Outback Mind Foundation (TOMF), a charity that targets improving men’s mental health in regional Australia.
Unlike nationwide mental healthcare programs, TOMF’s approach is centred around regional Australia.
With Aaron’s background in management, he has experience with helping men change their behaviours and coping strategies to better their mental health.
Part of his initiative is the establishment of ‘Men’s Circles’, which encourages communication between men and helps to eliminate stigma.
Aaron has also recently organised a film, called ‘Healing Men’s Minds’, which premiered in Gladstone in September and was created to promote men’s mental wellness.
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Peter Hawkins
Peter Hawkins is the director at Light Group, a successful chain of bars and restaurants operating through Central Queensland.
The group is responsible for the management of Light Box and Auckland House, and two other restaurants in Rockhampton.
The team helps to direct some of the region’s largest and most highly-planned events including Easter in Gladstone and various ‘Pop Up Polo’ events.
After opening Gladstone’s café and eatery Lightbox Espresso and Wine Bar in 2017, he is spreading his Central Queensland influence and has opened two restaurants in Rockhampton.
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Natalia Muszkat
Argentinian-born Natalia Muszkat migrated to Australia more than 20 years ago, moving to Gladstone in 2007 to raise her family.
A councillor with the Gladstone Regional Council since 2018, Natalia is a strong and vocal advocate for community services, having established projects for disadvantaged people in the region, domestic violence prevention, and various art and culture projects.
Natalia’s most recent accolade is the development of not for profit parenting program ‘Strong Communities’, an organisation which focuses on evidence-based techniques at building resilience in the region’s parents and young people.
She is a Member of the Multicultural Queensland Advisory Council and a Fellow of the Institute of Community Directors Australia and believes in conducting herself with empathy, compassion and respect for everyone’s ideas and experiences.
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Jack Smith
In 2022, at the age of 26, Jack Smith made his IronMan debut in Cairns, a huge challenge consisting of a 3.8 kilometre swim, a 180 kilometre bike ride and a full marathon run of 42 kilometres.
Since his debut in 2022, Jack has competed in multiple triathlons and IronMans, pushing himself through some of the grittiest challenges that exist.
Very few athletes will get to a point where they are able to complete the full IronMan challenge, given the enormous amount of training required.
In March, he finished as the Australian Olympic Distance champion for his age group at the Mooloolaba Triathlon.
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Cat Rotondo
Cat Rotondo is a women’s mental health advocate based in Gladstone.
After a decades-long struggle with depression and anxiety, Cat began her journey with Liptember, a national annual fundraiser held in September to highlight care and open communications about mental wellbeing.
She believes that women living in regional areas such as Gladstone can be more limited in receiving mental healthcare, due to a lack of availability compared with metropolitan areas.
Her experience with Liptember has opened conversations with women in the region who are struggling with their own mental health, seeking to change the narrative that women face when they seek mental healthcare.
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Michael Comley
Michael Comley is the owner and founder of Ward’s Brewery, Gladstone’s only independent brewhouse.
Since the brewery was opened in 2022, Michael and the team have received awards for their in-house brews, produced in their Auckland Street warehouse.
Not only has Michael’s business ventures produced award-winning beers, but his brewhouse and pub has also helped to maintain a hundreds-year-old piece of Gladstone history in the old Ward’s Cordial building.
The Ward’s name has also made appearances at festivals like Under The Trees, and the CQ Beer and Cider Festival.
Before opening the brewery, Michael has owned and managed Budget Direct in Gladstone, maintaining a team of local employees.
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Lyndal Hansen
Lyndal Hansen is the chief executive officer at Not-For-Proft (NFP) House, a Gladstone-based business that helps not for profits to kick-start their business journeys.
Lyndal started NFP House to enable not for profit organisations based in the region a place for information and support.
In addition to helping numerous not for profit businesses secure funding and maintain their organisations, Lyndal has also been responsible for the creation of programs like the NFP House Volunteer Portal, an online program connecting businesses in needs of a hand with prospective volunteers in the community.
NFP House has supported more than 500 organisations in the region, allowing them to access shared equipment and office resources.
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David Nunn
David Nunn is the owner and manager of High Risk Solutions, a scaffolding company employing 180 employees across Gladstone, Emerald and Rockhampton.
In addition to the success of High Risk Solutions, David also runs a program called Community of Gladstone Supporting Youth (COGSY).
COGSY is a program which was brought to life to allow experienced and skilled members of the community to volunteer their time to better the knowledge of youth in the Gladstone community.
David’s dedication to safe work practices has allowed him and his team to complete nearly 1500 projects in Central Queensland.
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Craig Watson
Craig Watson is the founder and organiser of Walking4Warriors (W4W), an annual event that raises money for veterans in Central Queensland.
W4W is an endurance challenge, that encourages participants to walk, run or crawl for a set period of time, starting from six hours to a full 24 hour challenge.
The challenge started as a platform for Craig to create open conversations for veterans to discuss mental health, with the physical aspect of the challenge to serve as a reminder for the lived experience of the veterans to whom we owe our current society to.
The challenge is also an opportunity to raise funds for young veterans in CQ.
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Nicole Allison
Nicole Allison would largely be recognised for her role as the executive assistant at Flynn MP Colin Boyce’s office, however her impact on the Gladstone community through her various volunteer roles has also been incredibly notable.
Primarily, Nicole is the president at Gladstone PAWS, an organisation which helps surrendered or homeless pets find their ‘furever’ homes.
Nicole has also previously been a board member at Rio Tinto’s Here for Gladstone community initiative, and is currently a founding director at NFP House and is on the board of EQIP.
NFP House helps not for profit organisations based in the region a place for information and support.
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Mark Brookes
Mark Brookes is the founder and organiser at Ride4Lives, an annual week long event to raise awareness about suicide prevention.
Mark was inspired to start the program during Gladstone’s industry boom, when suicide rates in the area were high, he told this publication in 2021.
The week of events includes workshops on managing the effects of suicide, men’s workshops for bettering communication, grief workshops and more.
Mark’s inspiration for continuing his work in the region is to create a human element to the statistics surrounding suicide.
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Leanne Patrick
Leanne Patrick is a huge community advocate in Boyne Island and Tannum Sands.
Leanne and her husband Nathan own and manage the McDonalds at Boyne Island, which has given back to the community through various donations and fundraisers, notably for the Boyne Tannum Bullets swim club.
Most recently, Leanne’s focus has been on the establishment of the Boyne Tannum Aquatic Recreation Centre (BTARC), generating traction in the region at the service which will benefit the BITS area.
Leanne announced earlier in 2023 that she was running for the position of a councillor at Gladstone Regional Council, motivated by her passion for community and desire to create better services for her community.
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Bill Webb
Bill Webb is the president of the Gladstone Meteors Soccer Club, helping disadvantaged youths to make a start in the game.
The Gladstone Meteors offers free membership sign-ons for kids whose families may not be able to afford club fees, allowing children to get involved with the sport even if they don’t have financial support.
Bill and the team at the Meteors rely on sponsorship from local businesses to enable their free memberships.
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Jason Hoad
Jason is an all-round influential Gladstone figure, most well known for his role as president at BEAST Championship.
BEAST has shaped the minds of many young people, teaching resilience and strength through martial arts.
Jason began using martial arts as a form of therapy for his PTSD, following his time as a corporal in Afghanistan.
Now, he delivers the same principles to young people who fight under the BEAST name.
In addition to his role at BEAST, Jason and his wife Jo also work with the Gladstone Show Society, proposing events for the region such as the upcoming heavy metal festival, and a Gladstone country music festival.
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Mellissa Holzeimer
Mellissa Holzeimer is a trauma and resilience coach working with women. Diagnosed with breast cancer during the Covid pandemic, Mellissa is a proud survivor offering help to women in similar situations to herself work through trauma to achieve their career goals.
Mellissa’s attitude is about encouraging women to put themselves first, and identify traumatic responses that may be holding them back.
She has helped a number of women in the region thrive in their careers, encouraging rest, mindfulness and resilience.
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