Elliot Hilse sworn in as Division 2 councillor for Rockhampton

Elliot Hilse has worked many different jobs from cleaning restrooms in the Netherlands to working on a vineyard on the outskirts of Vienna, running his own pub and working in deliveries, but he’s never worked an office profession in his life. Now he’s about to take on the new challenge of being on council.

Elliot Hilse was sworn in as the new Division 2 Councillor on Rockhampton Regional Council.

Elliot Hilse has worked many different jobs from cleaning restrooms in the Netherlands to working on a vineyard on the outskirts of Vienna, running his own pub and working in deliveries, but he’s never worked an office profession in his life.

But after being sworn in as Rockhampton Regional Council’s newest councillor it’s a challenge he’s ready to take on.

Mr Hilse was officially sworn in as the new Division 2 councillor on Monday, July 22, a week after council resolved to offer him, as the division’s runner up in the recent election, the position after the passing of the late councillor Neil Fisher.

Born and raised in Rockhampton, Mr Hilse is a dad of three and ran for the division at the March local government election.

Elliot Hilse was sworn in as the new Division 2 Councillor on Rockhampton Regional Council.

Local politics runs in his family with his father running for council in the 80s and his great-grandfather serving as mayor in 1909.

“I looked up to Neil, my family and I have been supporters of his for a long time,” he said.

“At the end of last year I went and saw the late Cr Fisher and had a chat to him about my intent to possibly run for Division 2 and he told me an interesting story, he actually helped my father during his campaign to run for council in the 80s.”

Mr Hilse said his father was born in Germany during World War II who had a dream of one day living in a wide open space under the sun, sleeping under a palm tree on a tropical beach.

After earning his trade as a butcher, he moved to Australia and settled in Rockhampton where he worked at the meatworks.

Mr Hilse said after he left school he went travelling and met his wife Henrieke while staying at a Scottish hostel, she herself was travelling from the Netherlands.

Elliot Hilse was sworn in as the new Division 2 Councillor on Rockhampton Regional Council.

After returning home Mr Hilse bought the Anchor Hotel on Bridge St, with his wife pouring beers behind the bar the first time she came to Rockhampton to visit him.

In 2011 she gave up her Dutch citizenship and became an Australian citizen.

“Our whole family loves Rockhampton, we think Rockhampton is the best place in the world to live,” he said.

“We’re not just saying that, there’s evidence by fact that two of my family members here today have travelled from the otherside of the world to live in Rockhampton.”

He said he was “excited and nervous” to take on the role.

“I really want to find out what the people of Division 2 want and I’ll be working for them, as well as the people of the whole Rockhampton region,” he said.

“The Rockhampton region is a great area and I think we’ve got a great future, I just want to be part of that future.

Elliot Hilse was sworn in as the new Division 2 Councillor on Rockhampton Regional Council.

“I’ve done heaps of different jobs in my life but I’ve never really worked in an office before, but I’m going to hit the ground with my feet running and give it 100 per cent.”

Council held a special meeting on Monday, July 15, to vote on how the Division 2 vacancy would be filled following the passing of Councillor Neil Fisher.

During the meeting council resolved to request for the Electoral Commission of Queensland to approach the runner-up from the recent local government election.

Under the Local Government Act 2009, a council has two options to fill a councillor vacancy within the first 12 months after an election.

They can fill the role by way of by-election or by following the procedure under section 166A to appoint the runner-up.

Originally published as Elliot Hilse sworn in as Division 2 councillor for Rockhampton