From politicians to sportspeople, scholars to businesspeople, activists to pacifists, Logan has achievers from all walks of life who are making a difference to our lives and the way we live them.

While we can’t acknowledge all the wonderful people in our community, we have chosen the top 30 who have subscribed to Theodore Roosevelt’s aphorism that far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.

There is no denying these people are influential and have worked hard to secure a better future for our community.

The Albert & Logan News, with the help of some judges, has compiled a list of Logan’s 30 most influential people — The Logan Power 30.

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5. KAREN SPILLER

As Chair of Independent Schools Queensland Karen Spiller would arguably be one of the strongest voices on education in the state.

The principal of John Paul College has been an educator and leader of schools for 38 years.

In 2017, Ms Spiller was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her service to education and mentoring.

She currently holds membership on several boards and advisory bodies including Yalari, Independent Schools Council of Australia, the International Education and Training Advisory Group, QUT Business Faculty CEO Advisory Group, Bond University Advisory Group to the Health Sciences Faculty and the AITSL School Leadership Advisory Group.

She is also a Fellow of Bond University.

Ms Spiller’s vision for education in Queensland is that every student, regardless of where they attend school and where they live, can access and enjoy a high quality educational experience.

4. HETTY JOHNSTON

It is hard to find a person that has been more influential in the child protection sphere than Hetty Johnston.

The renowned child protection crusader founded Bravehearts in 1997 after learning her daughter had been sexually assaulted.

Now, over 21 years later, Bravehearts has become a nationally and internationally recognised organisation of more than 70 employees who educate, empower and protect Australian kids from sexual assault. Locally, Mrs Johnston has also been influential.

In the 90s she successfully fought off the construction of a Tollway through Logan.

In 1995, she became a member of the Australian Democrats and ran in the 2016 Logan mayoral election.

She was the 2015 Australian of the Year for Queensland and in 2016 was inducted into the Australian Businesswoman’s hall of fame.

3. LOUIE NAUMOVSKI

There would not be many people in the community who have not heard of Louie Naumovski and his work through the Logan House Fire Support Network.

Mr Naumovski was working as a car yard manager when in 2011, 11 people tragically died in a house fire at Slacks Creek.

“That shook everyone,” he said.

“How could 11 people die in one house fire?”

Seeing how little support there were for victims of house fires, he founded the LHFSN with his wife Christine.

Since then he has attended thousands of fires across Logan, the Gold Coast and Brisbane and helped countless families pick up the remnants of their lives.

2. DARREN POWER

The self-confessed leader of the opposition in Logan City Council, Darren Power has many strings to his bow.
Although he has been in elected office since 1997, Cr Power started his working career as a qualified graphic reproductionist with the Herald Sun in Melbourne before joining the Australian Army qualifying as a Special Forces Commando earning his Green Beret and parachute wings.

He then served as a federal officer working in the consulate patrol group, close personal protection and the Melbourne airport.

Prior to being elected as a councillor, Cr Power worked in the Environmental Health department for six years.

Cr Power played a crucial role in bringing Operation Belcarra to Logan. He also led the way in calling for the establishment of an independent tribunal to set pay and remuneration for councillors.

He is married and lives in Shailer Park with two of his children. He believes that living in Logan and working within council has provided him with a genuine understanding of residents’ needs and an essential knowledge of the organisation’s operations.

He considers Logan to have an enviable natural environment with many wonderful community spaces that offer great state-of-the-art facilities to support a fantastic lifestyle.

1. CHERIE DALLEY

Logan City councillor Cherie Dalley has been a political stalwart in Logan for more than three decades.

Cr Dalley, who is the sitting member for Division 8, was this year elevated to the position of acting mayor after her colleague, Luke Smith, was suspended pending fraud charges.

Cr Dalley, who was first elected to council in 1997, says she fears nothing — except husband Stewart, her daughter and grandson, who all knew how to “push my buttons”.

Cr Dalley and her husband operated a commercial tiling business until 1999.

As the head of the elected body of council, it is Cr Dalley’s role to co-ordinate and present at many community functions on behalf of the council.

Her influence extends further than her political role and she is also president of the Queensland Consumers’ Association, and is heavily involved in community groups.

She is a Legatee and treasurer of the Logan Beaudesert Crime Stoppers Committee.

She has previously chaired council’s finance committee and planning and development committee, a role she held in the 2008-2012 term.

A divisional community consultation committee advises Cr Dalley on the small and large issues within Division 8.

Since May, she has also taken on the role of councillor for division 6 after her colleague Cr Stacey McIntosh was suspended while facing stealing charges.

Cr Dalley says she finds the committee’s comments on policy matters invaluable, which helps her in making decisions that benefit the whole community.

She is a Graduate Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Diploma of Local Government Administration from QUT.

Cr Dalley has three grown children and four grandchildren, and has lived in Logan since 1980.

Cr Dalley also served as the Chair of Finance and Governance from 2004-2008 and as Chair of Planning and Development from 2008-2016 and was appointed as Deputy Mayor of the city in 2016.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: TELL US WHO YOU WOULD PICK

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