WE’RE counting down the top 20 most influential people who help make the North Lakes community a great place to live.
There are so many people in our community who are doing great things and who are helping to make great things happen.
The list is only a sample and people are encouraged to suggest others.
Let’s acknowledge the people who help to make our community the great place it is.
20. STEVEN MILES AND CHRIS WHITING.
The area’s two state MPs combined forces during the 2017 state election campaign to lobby for funding for a state high school to be built at Mango Hill. It is due to open next year.
Steven Miles, was formerly Member for Mount Coot-tha and was elected Member for Murrumba in 2017 and now resides in Mango Hill. He has been the Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services since the last state election. He has lobbied to retain or increase carparking at Mango Hill train station, supported a new school bus service for Mango Hill and had bicycle lockers installed at the Mango Hill train stations.
A former councillor, Chris Whiting has been representing residents in the North Lakes area in state parliament since 2015, initially as Member for Murrumba and since late 2017 as member for the new seat of Bancroft. He is the chairman, State Development, Natural Resources and Agricultural Industry Development Committee. He helped get the new multistorey building at North Lakes State College, school hall and crossing supervisors and safety lights for Bounty Boulevard State School, holds annual community champion awards to recognise volunteers and others in the community.
19. MARLENE NEWCOMBE
When Marlene Newcombe started working at a wreaking yard at 18 she had no idea it would lead to her being the managing director of Village Motors. The family-owned business has three-generations working there with close to 130 employees. Village Motors sponsors many sporting clubs and community events including The Redcliffe Dolphins, The Lakes Football Club, Redcliffe Golf Club, Pine Rivers Golf Club, Jetty 2 Jetty and KiteFest to name a few. Village Motors opened a large dealership at North Lakes in late 2017.
18. LACHLAN CREIGHTON
Griffin businessman Lachlan Creighton owns two Anytime Fitness gyms but is always willing to help out the community and encourage his clients to get involved. He has twice hosted and taken part in the Tread Together 24-hour Treadmill Challenge for Suicide Prevention. He is passionate about raising awareness of mental illness. Mr Creighton was quick to respond to a request to support a present drive for sick children last Christmas. More than 100 presents were left at his gyms during December and given out to the children in hospital.
17. KRIS AND DR NILMINI GUNAWARDANA
A vision to provide non-existent services in the growing area of Griffin led couple
Kris and Dr Nilmini Gunawardana to open the suburb’s first medical centre. Griffin Medical Centre started taking patients in 2017. With Kris as practice director and Nilmini as head doctor the practice has grown in the past two years and staff now see about 450 patients a week. A second building was completed last year and the hub now includes a dental clinic and pathology service with a pharmacy to open in April. The centre saves residents from having to travel to Murrumba Downs or North Lakes.
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