Toowoomba council endorses small business owner Edwina Farquhar as 11th councillor after five-round vote
The Toowoomba region's newest councillor says she's ready to hit the ground running after being endorsed by her new colleagues. Read her profile here:
A small business owner and community organiser has become the Toowoomba region's newest councillor - and has six months to get up to speed.
Edwina Farquhar said she's "excited" by the challenge presented, after she was endorsed out of 23 candidates for the vacant position by the 10 sitting councillors.
Ms Farquhar, who runs several businesses including the popular Finch Cafe with her husband Dan and is involved in multiple community groups, pipped small business veteran Joy Mingay at the final ballot.
It took five rounds of voting at Tuesday's special meeting for councillors to come to a decision through their determined optional preferential system, where the 10 officials could vote for up to two candidates.
The field of nearly two dozen candidates, which included community organisers, small business owners, professionals and regular citizens, was whittled down to 10, five, four and finally two.
Ms Farquhar was visibly stunned when she was announced as the winner, embracing Ms Mingay following a process that took nearly three hours.
She was supported by her husband, children Polly and Rose as well as mother Jayne.
The mother-of-two and employer of more than 50 people said the appointment was "overwhelming", but felt she was up to task.
" I didn't think it would get to five rounds, and I was nervous during the rounds because there was such a huge number of high-quality candidates," Ms Farquhar told News Corp.
"It says the council were looking for someone with my skill-set and background in business," she said.
"I run my own business, work with large groups and businesses, manage budgets and have the skills to fill in with this temporary role until March.
"It is six months until the March election so the goals will be to meet with each of the councillors and understand the needs and wants and where I can be best prioritised over these months."
Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald, who described the lengthy process as "democracy in action" during the meeting, said he was delighted with the result.
"What I'm most buoyed by is we thought carefully about how we would do this," he said.
"There was no rule book for this one, so we worked through it as a council group and we got an outcome through a democratic process and that's what the community wants."
Mr McDonald said he already had a role potentially lined up for Ms Farquhar, given her experience in financial management.
"It's a steep learning curve but there are some real upsides with Edwina and her background, around marketing and financial management," he said.
"Councillors had spoken about the potential given that my role is the chair of finance and business, which could do with another person in there.
"Edwina will slot beautifully into finance and business strategy, so that will be a good way for her to understand all of the business."
Ms Farquhar will be sworn into the position officially on Wednesday.
WHO IS EDWINA FARQUHAR?
A noted small business owner, Edwina Farquhar is known for owning the Finch cafe with her husband as well as her involvement in various school, community and charitable causes.
While she said her experience in business would aid her on council, she described herself as a team player.
“It’s about using my existing experience and further helping the Toowoomba community,” Mrs Farquhar said prior to Tuesday's vote.
“That’s where it comes from – I really love this city and I’d love to help into the future.
“I’ve got a business and communications background, we’ve got 50 people working under us and I’ve managed big budgets, but I’d like to understand the gaps (on council) and find out where I could help the existing councillors the most.”
Mrs Farquhar said CBD activation, infrastructure and tourism would be among her focuses if endorsed as a councillor.
“I see the biggest opportunities as I’d like to help with general infrastructure and tourism to the regions, as well as access to the CBD,” she said.
“We could look at creating other events to bring more people to town so they can spend more money.”
Mayor slams government over ‘bin tax’ as $25m missing piece revealed
Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald has launched a broadside at the Qld government over how the money raised from its waste levy is spent, calling on the state to help fund a critical $25m asset.
What you said: Readers vent their frustration at looming rate rise
The Toowoomba mayor has foreshadowed a big rate increase and cuts to incentives as the council prepares to hand down it 2025-26 budget, but The Chronicle readers are not buying it. Here is what you said.
List: 47 properties threatened with auction due to $670k rates bill
Nearly 50 properties, including some in high-end Toowoomba suburbs, could be auctioned off by the council if $670,000 in outstanding rates are not paid. See the list here:
Mayor touts ‘balanced budget’ amid 28 per cent rate hike fears
Mayor Geoff McDonald has promised most Toowoomba homeowners will avoid a double-digit rate rise, despite council initially considering hikes of up to 28 per cent. Here’s what is on the chopping block.
$75m blowout: Eye-watering new price tag for Toowoomba sports precinct
The price tag for Toowoomba’s new ambitious sports precinct has blown out by at least $70 million, with residents facing years of additional delays under a revised master plan.
Dead in the water: Study shoots down $1.2bn Emu Creek Dam plan
The $1.2bn Emu Creek Dam dream is dead in the water after a $50,000 council study exposed its poor yield capabilities. Here is the alternative that the council is now favouring: