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.

We’ll reveal five people every day until the top spot is announced on Monday, November 26.

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25. TOM LINSKEY

Meadowbrook businessman Tom Linskey has played a major role shaping sports grounds and golf courses in southeast Queensland for decades.

The former professional golfer is widely acknowledged as director of Australia’s longest-running and best-known golf teaching schools.

He was Australian Long Drive Champion in 1977 and again took that honour, this time in the ‘Super Senior’ category, in 2006.

But it has been his diverse career in golf-related occupations that stands Tom apart from most other golf professionals.

Not content to just “play” for a living, he has forged a profession as both a playing and teaching pro, a golf course designer, a coach, an administrator and an entrepreneur.

The extent of his course deigns is far reaching in Logan and he has forged many relationships with world-class golfers who come to the city to seek his advice.

A full member of the Australia PGA since 1965, Tom was an active tournament player from then until 1991. He also played on the European Tour in 1972, ‘76 and ‘77. From 1995 to the present he has been active on the Australian Senior Tour.

24. DEB LYNCH

Logan mum Deb Lynch knows what is it like to be faced with a challenge.

The Cornubia cannabis advocate is one of Logan’s most influential women as she has stood up to government to speak for the sick and infirm.

She has defended herself against cannabis charges and has also gone out on a limb for others on similar charges.

Last year she launched a petition asking the state government to amend its Drug Misuse Act 1986.

She said the Act aimed to target drug traffickers but had “unfairly” caught others using cannabis for personal and medicinal use as well.

As president of the Medical Cannabis Users Association of Australia, Ms Lynch said she was representing hundreds of other Logan residents being dragged through the courts.

“Beenleigh Courthouse has a number of MCUA patient members, who’ve been charged with cannabis crimes, myself included,” she said.

“The petition asks for specific changes to laws and regulations, which will remedy the untenable situation facing a large number of Logan residents.

“The Act was designed to target traffickers but presently 90 per cent of those charged under the Act are patients, carers or personal consumers.

“I have been refused a legal prescription, for a legally available medicine, and many others are in the same position and are also forced to source cannabis illegally.”

The changes the association is proposing allow access and exemption from prosecution for those who use cannabis for medicinal purposes.

Ms Lynch said the rules were changing but less than 100 patients have obtained cannabis through the Special Access Scheme.

“These figures are appalling given the number of patients who need access to cannabis in Queensland including 128 children with epilepsy.”

23. SAMMY PEARCE

An 11-year-old Cedar Grove boy is taking a “top down” approach to bullies.

Sammy Pearce, who set up his Bully Free Schools in Australia group, has turned his sights to state parliament.

He launched a petition in June calling on the state government to introduce “targeted anti-bullying education” into all schools.

The petition garnered nearly 2000 signatures and emphasised that educating students about the effects of bullying would ensure primary school students learned values and behaviours to prevent bullying.

The petition also called for education programs to help students who are being bullied to cope at school and broader social situations.

Sammy’s education initiative also called for at least one annual combined parenting and children’s educational program.

“This can save a lot of kids! It’s time to be brave.”

Sammy has also played a role in establishing a Walk for Peace and has addressed Logan and Scenic Rim councils about his aspirations.

22. LACHLAN POWER

YouTuber Lachlan Power, who grew up and still lives in Logan, is the world’s fourth biggest gamer.

The 23-year-old attracts a daily audience to his YouTube channel of more than 7 million viewers.

After leaving school at John Paul College, he went to Griffith University for a year before setting up his own YouTube channel to milk the Minecraft market.

Now, after chalking up more than 1 billion views, he has branched out to Fortnite and is ranked 236th in the world of YouTube according to Social Blade.

Since most of the top guns hail from the US, he had to work hard to get to the top.

His main YouTube channel is named after him.

But he also has a second YouTube channel called LachlanPlayz with over 500,000 subscribers to that channel too.

21. GRANT RALSTON

As a detective senior sergeant at Logan Child Protection and Investigation Unit, Grant Ralston helps look out for some of the community’s most vulnerable.

Every day, Det snr sgt Ralston works hand-in-hand with community members and groups to help keep children in Logan safe.

A police officer for 30 years, Det snr sgt Ralston has been a detective since 2000 and has worked in the Gold Coast, Logan and Brisbane districts in uniform and plain clothes.

He became officer in charge of the Logan CPIU in 2016 and is dedicated to investigations involving child abuse, child protection and juvenile justice.

“I value the collaboration with other agencies and I believe we all have a common goal that we all work together to make the community of Queensland a safer place,” he says.

He believes police are just one “cog in a wheel” to protecting children, reducing youth recidivism and ending child victimisation.