Earlier this year, I sat down with Cr Rebecca Vonhoff, Toowoomba Regional Council. Since then, she's been nominated as Deputy Mayor, as the long serving Mayor Paul Antonio retired. In March 2020 she was elected with the highest number of votes in the local government area and is Chair of the Water and Waste Portfolio, Deputy Chair of the Local Government Disaster Management and serves on several committees (Environment, International Relations, Youth as well as the Bridge Street Quarry Development).

Since being elected to Council, Rebecca has challenged conventional thinking on water. She believes Council needs to plan for water for residential use as well as agriculture and industry because economic development in the region is underpinned by these sectors. She has been a strong advocate for long-term thinking about water security and working with neighbouring local governments for regional solutions.

It was a pleasure to spend some time with Rebecca and reflect on this term. Enjoy listening.

Mayor Matt Burnett was born and raised in the Gladstone Region with his family's connection to the region extending five generations. He is a former small business operator and qualified journalist, having started his own newspaper, The Port Curtis Post, at the age of 19.

He has served in Local Government since 2000, including five years as Deputy Mayor prior to his election as Mayor. During his time in Local Government, Cr Burnett served as Chairman of Technical Services with Gladstone City Council and as portfolio representative in Technical Services, Infrastructure Services and Town Planning with Gladstone Regional Council after amalgamation in 2008. 

Cr Burnett has always had the best interests of the community at heart and, as Mayor, he draws upon the experience he has gathered over his years in Council to ensure those interests remain a key consideration even as the region continues to grow and develop. 

Cr Burnett brings an inclusive style of leadership to Council, making sure the thoughts and views of his fellow Councillors, Council officers, business and industry leaders, community groups and organisations, and members of the community are all heard and taken into consideration. 

Cr Burnett represents Central Queensland on the Local Government Association of Queensland Policy Executive, is a Director on the LGAQ Board and is Vice President of Australian Local Government Association.

It was wonderful to spend some time, listening and learning from Mayor Burnett earlier this year. We hope you enjoy listening.

I’m Kirstie Schumacher, host of this podcast and Councillor with South Burnett Regional Council.  Before I begin interviewing other Councillors, I wanted to be brave and go first. For the first episode I’ve invited my friend, Tessa Stanford a genius in courageous storytelling to help me share my story.