Toowoomba deputy mayor Rebecca Vonhoff admits to taking photograph of Kerry Shine asleep during meeting

Toowoomba’s deputy mayor has admitted she took a photo of a council colleague that was then leaked online, bringing an end to a scandal that had been bubbling for months.

Toowoomba councillors Kerry Shine and Rebecca Vonhoff.

Toowoomba’s most popular councillor has apologised to a colleague for taking a photograph of him asleep during a meeting, which was then circulated online in the weeks leading up to the local government election.

Councillor Kerry Shine confirmed deputy mayor Rebecca Vonhoff had rung him late last week to apologise, bringing to a close a scandal that had been bubbling over for months.

The photo, depicting Mr Shine asleep in his chair, was leaked on social media pages just days out from the 2024 council elections.

While it is not clear who leaked the photograph online, multiple council insiders say its circulation on Facebook community pages by fake accounts appeared to be an attempt to discredit Mr Shine.

The scandal, included as part of a widespread investigation by The Chronicle on May 25 into inaction and work culture at the TRC, sparked a wave of outcries from multiple former councillors, current councillors, MPs and business leaders.

Toowoomba councillors (from left) Kerry Shine and Rebecca Vonhoff wait for the start of the council election ballot draw, 2024.

In a Chronicle poll, seven out of 10 readers said the councillor who took the photo should come forward.

Mr Shine said Ms Vonhoff called on Friday evening to admit to and apologise for taking the compromising photo of him, and he said he wished it hadn’t taken a newspaper investigation and enormous public pressure to make it happen.

“I don’t get many calls from her, so I was suspecting that was why she was ringing,” Mr Shine said.

“I did accept the apology — we all make mistakes, it’s a pity that it hadn’t been made earlier, and it took a fair bit of doing for it to be made.

“Rebecca was quite remorseful about it, and I’m sure if she had her time over again, she wouldn’t have done it.

“We all have our faults, but she (has) a lot of good qualities as well – I prefer to think about those than anything else.”

Following questions from The Chronicle, Ms Vonhoff issued a statement saying she had taken the photo and apologising to Mr Shine over the incident, several months after it first came to light.

“Within the council chamber, if someone dozed off we would occasionally draw each other’s attention to it and if possible, subtly wake them,” Ms Vonhoff wrote.

“There are multiple cameras inside chamber and no rules against taking photos.

“I did not circulate the photo outside chamber and had hoped for everyone’s sake – including my colleague’s – that this matter would cease to be commented on, but this has not been the case.

“Instead, it has been vigorously pursued.

“I have apologised to Cr Shine and am grateful for his forgiveness. I’m sorry to everyone who I have let down.”

Mr Shine also apologised for “nodding off” during a council meeting when the photo was taken.

“I shouldn’t have done that – on reflection it’s that the presenters of the session wouldn’t have appreciated,” he said.

“It may have caused embarrassment to my colleagues and the people who put me here, but I have no hesitation in making that apology.”

Mayor Geoff McDonald said he was happy to see the matter finally resolved, as the council prepared for its first round of committee meetings under a new portfolio structure.

“I’m pleased that that’s taken place – the strong working relationship I have with the deputy mayor and with Kerry will continue,” he said.

“We have all (as councillors) committed to work together for a stronger community every day.”