Moranbah's first Maccas

CRAIG and Jane Miels are ready to take on the challenge of opening Moranbah's first McDonald's restaurant.

Jane and Craig Miels have been training at the McDonald’s restaurant in Airlie Beach. The Miels are the franchisees of Moranbah’s first McDonald’s outlet. Picture: Contributed

CRAIG and Jane Miels are ready to take on the challenge of opening Moranbah's first McDonald's restaurant.

The pair first met as McDonald's employees when they were 15 and have loved the restaurants ever since.

Mr Miels said the restaurant was under construction on Moranbah Connection Rd opposite Moranbah Airport.

"We hope the store will be open by September this year depending on weather conditions," Mr Miels said.

"We liked the location of Moranbah, it's better than anywhere else. It's where all the activity is happening."

Having spent time all over Australia, Mr Miels, a South Australian, said he loved the Queensland lifestyle.

We wanted to remain in Queensland," he said.

"We liked the thought that we'd be able to give students their first job. We're hiring now so we can train and build a team who'll be the first to work at the new restaurant when it opens. Our managers will be trained and accredited with a Diploma in Business and McDonald's will pay the costs to attend the courses in Brisbane and Sydney which will be a great opportunity for Moranbah residents."

He said it had been a long but enjoyable journey to the point when he and his wife became franchisees.

"It started in February 2009 after we'd been working at a Cairns McDonald's," Mr Miels said.

"A portion of our training has been in Airlie Beach."

MEAL DEALS

Some of our meal name suggestions for the new Moranbah McDonald's:

 The Open Cut

 Double Coalburger

 The McCrusher

Originally published as Moranbah's first Maccas