Fraser Coast’s Top 10 most influential people of 2024
The Fraser Coast’s most influential person of 2024 has been decided with a convincing win over their nearest rival, but the top 10 was a tight finish, with the slimmest of margins separating the winning field. See the full results here:
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Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour has taken out 23 per cent of the vote to earn the number one position in the search for the Fraser Coast’s most influential person of 2024.
Almost 500 Fraser Coast Chronicle readers voted in the poll, after the call went out to nominate those people the community thought deserved to be short-listed for the title.
Among them were social media influencers, local politicians, state and federal politicians, teachers, coaches, business leaders and many more.
In fact, a total of 39 men women from all walks of life made the final short-list.
Mr Seymour was voted #1, and his closest rival for the title was federal LNP Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien, who attracted six per cent of the vote, followed by Michael Green, Maryborough ALP MP Bruce Saunders, businessman Glen Winney and Tara L Bradbury, who each drew five per cent of the total vote to be equal third.
Seymour loses vote to stop Hervey Bay Sheraton development 6:5
Tanya Stevenson and principal Simon Done finished in equal fourth, with four per cent of the vote each,
In equal fifth position, with three per cent of the vote each, was Paul Truscott, Pesamino Lemanu (Simon), Jasmine Corrick, Sara Diana Faraj, Luke Strochnetter, Chris Wicks and Alicia Anne Wade.
Congratulations to all of our winners.
Here is the list of nominees, in no particular order:
Jasmine Corrick: Business broker, real estate agent, speaker, consultant and author
Jade Wellings: Former Fraser Coast councillor
Cherie Treloar: Accent Theatre Company Company director
Tim Holstein: Accent Theatre Company Company director
Tegan Symes: Tegan is is the director of Flame Studios Hervey Bay Company
Robyn Williams who organises the Burrum Coal Discovery Festival (Coalfest), an annual event held in July. It’s a big job and one that she does well.
Jodie Pearson Berkhout, described in her nomination as “the most amazing woman in local business in Hervey Bay - her support for other businesses is beyond recognition - she supports other people and other businesses as well as her family- definitely rewarding of any local award”.
Luke Strochnetter. “Such an energetic and committed young man. Always putting community first. Coordinator of our carol’s events, business operator and entrepreneur. Definitely a contender.”
Chris Wicks - “Community organiser, big hitter, sport star and entertainer”.
The vote is on to determine who will be anointed the Fraser Coast’s Most Influential person of 2024.
The vote is on to determine who will be anointed the Fraser Coast’s Most Influential person of 2024.
Dylan Tralau: One of the owner operators of Migaloos Seafood & Ice Creamery, property investor, and social media influencer at the age of 22. “We started doing TikTok roughly about 4 months ago and have grown to 19,000 followers. Within this time frame, we have reached over 700k live viewers, boosting Fraser coast tourism and bringing people here from all over the world just to see us.”
Tara L Bradbury of Active Agents. “She is an inspiration to everyone in her field and also as a local business woman.”
Melanie Bragg, “your story is truly inspirational”.
Tara Duerkop of the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre
Michael Green from Integrated Martial Arts Wellbeing Centre. “Michael has influenced so many people and supports so many charities through events his Academy Conduct. Michael is a very kind hearted, honest down to earth gentleman. Just keeps just giving and giving!”
Pesamino Lemanu (Simon) from Hervey Bay High School, “the help he gives to all the kids is amazing. He lifts the kids up that really needs it and the ones that don’t he is amazing”.
Tanya Stevenson - CEO of Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre
Alicia Anne Wade - Founder, Director, CEO at The Gratitude Method
Darren Bosley “for his tireless volunteer work for various fundraising organisations and tourism events in Hervey Bay”.
Cleone McRoberts - “An amazing dance teacher of the Wide Bay region, who has delivering confidence, skill sets and life skills to hundreds of Fraser Coast kids, and is still working today”.
Bob Wicks and Narelle - “Our region would not be the same if not for their input into business sport etc”.
Jeffrey Morris - “With sport and what it has done for the Fraser Coast”
George Seymour: “A great mayor and a great person”
Ben Souvlis from Magnolia Village “has done wonders for tourism”
Simon Done, Maryborough State High School principal: “We are proud of our marvellous principal, Mr Done, who has been awarded his third Excellence award as Government Principal of the Year for 2024 at the Australian Education Awards!”
Michelle Byrne, Division 1 councillor Fraser Coast Regional Council
Paul Truscott, Fraser Coast Regional councillor Division 3
Glen Winney, president of the Fraser Coast Property Industry Association
Phil Truscott, Division 2 councillor Fraser Coast Regional Council
Daniel Sanderson, Division 4 Fraser Coast Regional Council
Michelle Govers, Division 5 Fraser Coast Regional Council
Lachlan Cosgrove, Division 6 Fraser Coast Regional Council
John Weiland, Division 7 councillor Fraser Coast Regional Council
Denis Chapman, Division 8 councillor Fraser Coast Regional Council
Sara Diana Faraj, Division 9 councillor Fraser Coast Regional Council
Zane O’Keefe, Division 10 councillor Fraser Coast Regional Council
Llew O’Brien, Federal LNP MP for Wide Bay
Adrian Tantari, state Labor MP for Hervey Bay
Bruce Saunders, state Labor MP for Maryborough and Assistant Minister for Train Manufacturing, Regional Development and Jobs. Bruce “has taken a great interest in his constituents and has helped Maryborough bring more industry to Maryborough and in some cases such as rail manufacturing has stopped work going overseas”.
More Coverage
Originally published as Fraser Coast’s Top 10 most influential people of 2024
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