Charlie Horne to run for Division 3 Gympie council seat at 2024 election

Charlie Horne’s legacy in Gympie runs across numerous well-known businesses and ventures, and now he is trying his hand at something new.

As a lifelong resident of Gympie, Charlie Horne has had an influence on the region through his work as a businessman and curator.

There was still one challenge he had not tried his hand at, though – until now.

The 72-year-old is throwing his hat into the ring at the March 2024 council elections, announcing he will fight for the Division 3 seat held by incumbent Shane Waldock.

Mr Waldock has not announced whether he intends to run again for the seat.

Mr Horne said his desire to step into local government was “to look after what we’ve got”.

He said the council was not “doing such a bad job” but there was a need to the city moving forward while protecting the assets which had kept him in the region for almost his whole life.

Voters will head to the Queensland council elections in March 2024.

There were no misapprehensions as to the scope of powers which would come should he win the seat.

Mr Horne said he knew that councillors did not get a say in many parts of the organisation, but he was keen to have voters’ voices heard where he could.

“All I can promise is I’ll take it to the council,” Mr Horne said.

Ranked: How every Gympie school performed in 2023 NAPLAN

Cooloola Foods was one of several businesses Charlie Horne had a hand in across the region.

Mr Horne’s background across that time included running W&H Auto (“I was the H,” he said), the Gympie South Golden Fleece service station, Gympie Ice Supply, Gympie Auto, and Cooloola Foods.

These days he can often be found at the Gympie Mining Museum and its cafe.

His longest stretch away from the region had been about four years when he went to work at Mount Isa and along the Queensland coast.

Even then he would still drive home “for the weekends”.

“Gympie’s got everything going for it,” Mr Horne said.

“It’s close to everything you’ll ever need.”

Although his name and face was likely well-known among the region’s long-time residents, Mr Horne said he now had the challenge of letting those new to the region know who he was.

“I’m a bloke, not a politician,” he said.