Mackay businessman and footy great Steve Jackson to run for mayor

As a Canberra Raiders great Steve Jackson will long be remembered for carrying opposition players across the tryline to win the grand final. Now he’s out to raid the top job in Mackay. See what drives him.

Former footy great and business owner Steve Jackson will take on incumbent Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson in the 2024 election.Â

Steve Jackson is known as a footy great and as a chicken shop owner but his identity as aspiring politician is still in early formation.

The owner of Lenard’s Mount Pleasant and Caneland Central went public late last week with his ambitions to take on incumbent Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson in the 2024 election. 

Mr Jackson, or ‘Jacko’ to his mates, said he had the full support of family and his partner Helen Golding to tackle the challenge which will require him to convince residents he can outperform Mr Williamson as mayor.

Mr Williamson is hoping to secure his third consecutive term as mayor. The fifth-generation local first served as mayor from 1991 to 1994, having entered the council arena in the 1980s.

Meanwhile in the 80s, Steve Jackson played with the NRL Canberra Raiders, starting out in rugby league at just five years old.

His career-defining moment was during the 1989 grand final versing the Balmain Tigers when he literally carried opposition players across the tryline during overtime to win the match 19-14.

Decades on, the 57 year old said he still gets offered free drinks because of it, although he will now decline.

“As a football player, our culture was to have a drink when we celebrated a win, have a drink when we drowned our sorrows.

“I gave up drinking 10 years ago and my whole life has changed.”

Mr Jackson said he recently rang his old footy mate Dean Lonergan to glean his opinion on the political pursuit.

In the 80s Steve Jackson played with the NRL Canberra Raiders, starting out in rugby league at just five years old.

“I said to Deano, ‘You’ll probably laugh at this, but I’m going to run for mayor of Mackay in March next year.

“He said, ‘Why would I laugh? You’ve done things people can only dream of.’”

Mr Jackson said he would apply to his mayorship, should he get it, lessons from football as well as his 27 years of being a Lenard’s franchisee.

“The principles and the disciplines I learned from the game, I just put into life.

“You’ve got 10 councillors (in the council) and it’s the same principles as how to be successful as a team.

“In a team, when one loses you all lose.

Steve Jackson (right) with fellow footy legend Trevor Gillmeister.

“But at the same time, when one wins you all win.

“It’s not about standing over people, it’s about standing next to people.”

Mr Jackson admits he was an “aggressive young man” as was the “nature of the football” scene but he had grown softer in his older years.

“I know there’s a lot of people out there that wouldn’t have a clue who I am,” he said.

“I’m very private when I’m at home … but I’ve lived a bit of a life out in the public eye and have been scrutinised.

Former footy great and business owner Steve Jackson will take on incumbent Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson in the 2024 election.

“It’s sometimes pretty tough to have people question your integrity but that’s a part of life and I’m up for it.”

Mr Jackson said he did not take the prospect of mayor lightly and he was not going to make promises to voters that he could not keep.

“I’ve had a few influential people ring me already, throwing ideas at me,” he said.

He said it was still early days in his campaign but he had the four Rs front of mind: roads, rates, rubbish and the river.

Mr Jackson said there was a principle he instilled in his Lenard’s staff that he hoped to carry into office.

“I teach my staff to save me one cent and you’ll save me a thousand dollars.”

He said it was activating the “thought process” to save even a cent that would accumulate into real savings.

He hoped to streamline and tighten council spending to ensure the council was accountable to its ratepayers.

As to the Pioneer River, Mr Jackson said it was “neglected” and more could be done to make the most of one of Queensland’s only two blue rivers.

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