Whitsunday Mayor Andrew Willcox reflects on rise from Bowen farm to federal politics

He didn’t start out with Canberra in his sights, but now Liberal Party candidate Andrew Willcox says he’s on a personal quest to ‘improve the way of life’ for everyone in his federal electorate.

He might be vying for a seat in federal parliament but Andrew Willcox is adamant he is no “career politician”.

The former tomato farmer turned two-term Whitsunday mayor says rising to the highest level of government in Australia has never been part of the plan, but he is ready to embrace the opportunity that has opened up with his preselection as a Liberal National Party candidate.

When Mr Willcox first stood for Whitsunday Regional Council in 2012, the proudly born-and-bred Bowenite saw the move simply as another way to serve his community, as he had always done on various sporting club committees.

Representing Koorelah Farms at a Bowen Tomato Growers Field Day in the early 2000s. Willcox, right, worked on and managed the family farm for more than 20 years, before selling his stake to his sister in 2010. Picture: File

The third-generation farmer had no formal qualifications or personal role models in politics, having up until that point devoted himself to continuing his family’s farming legacy and developing a real estate portfolio.

What he did have was a farmer’s work ethic, business nous and a wealth of experience interacting with everyone from CEOs of major companies to fruit-picking backpackers – traits that have proved to be such a winning combination, he has held the mayor’s office since 2016.

Whitsunday Mayor Andrew Willcox, pictured with wife Raylene, after he was selected as the next LNP candidate to take on the Dawson seat at the upcoming federal election. He is pictured after winning the bid at the preselection meeting at Farview Tavern, Farleigh, Sunday, August 29, 2021. Picture: Heidi Petith

It is a role he thoroughly enjoys, saying: “I sleep really well at night knowing I’ve been able to help people”, and highlighting his contributions to “unifying” the region following the Bowen and Whitsunday shires’ amalgamation as his proudest achievement.

Stepping up to replace departing Dawson MP George Christensen at the next federal election would be an opportunity to help people on a greater scale, Mr Willcox said, providing a higher level of infrastructure and services for the Whitsunday region and much further afield.

“I’ve always been passionate about community service and looking after people and this is the next step,” he said.

“It’s an opportunity to improve the roads, telecommunications, water security – things I haven’t got access to in local government.”

Standing for the Queens Beach Division 6 seat in the 2012 Whitsunday Regional Council elections. Willcox campaigned on issues including Bowen's future needs for sewerage and water infrastructure.

Mr Willcox said he chose to join the LNP because he identified with values including “a conservative way of life, looking after freedoms, working hard, and reward for effort.”

And while he said it was too early to share details of his campaign platform, broadly his aim was to “improve the way of life of everyone in Dawson”.

“George Christensen, he’s larger than life and he’s done a great job in Dawson but I’m Andrew Willcox, I’m the new man for the job and I will deliver for Dawson,” he said.

“I’m my own man so I’ll be bringing my own style of leadership.

“I’ll apply the same approach as I do to everything else – work hard, put my best foot forward, and at the end of the day, let the democratic process do its work.”

Speaking to the press with Liberal National Party MP George Christensen in 2018. Willcox says he aligns with the LNP’s values including ‘a conservative way of life’.

With no word yet on when the next federal election will happen, it will be mostly business as usual in Willcox’s world for the time being.

He will continue all his usual mayoral duties until the government makes the election announcement and will not technically have to exit the role unless he does win the federal seat, which would trigger a local by-election.

With his Whitsunday Regional Council colleagues, from left: Division 6 Cr Mike Brunker, Division 1 Cr Jan Clifford, Division 5 Cr Gary Simpson, Mayor Andrew Willcox, Division 3 Cr John Collins, Division 4 Cr Michelle Wright, and Division 2 Cr Al Grundy. Picture: WRC

Whatever the outcome, Mr Willcox will continue to regard himself as “a farmer and small business man” first and foremost and a politician second.

“I’ll be out and about serving the community exactly as I’ve always done,” he said.

“If I get to Canberra, I’m definitely prepared to put the time in time to listen to constituents.

“I’m very results focused and I like to get things done but my biggest skill is being able to listen to other people.

“I believe we’ve got two ears and one mouth and we should use them in that proportion.”

Andrew Willcox and wife Raylene have raised three children in Bowen who have now gone on to careers in engineering, marketing, and teaching. Pictured, from left: Tom, Shannon, Andrew, Jack and Raylene. Picture: File

Mr Willcox lives with his wife Raylene in Bowen. They have three children, Jack, Shannon and Tom.