MAYOR BOB MANNING

Bob Manning became Mayor of Cairns in 2012.  He is a graduate of the University of Southern Queensland.

He was CEO at Longreach Shire Council for seven years before becoming CEO of the Cairns Port Authority from 1984 to 2002. He served as GM of the Cairns ship building and engineering company NQEA for two years, having previously served as a Director for nine years.

In 2005, he was appointed CEO of Hermes Airports Ltd, a multinational consortium established to set up new international airports in Cyprus.  The company carried out a large scale re-development program, including the construction of two new terminal buildings costing $1 billion.

Bob returned to Australia in 2008 to resume his life in Cairns where he became Executive / Chairman of Anglicare North Queensland Ltd.

He has received a number of major awards marking his business and community work.  They include the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) through the development and promotion of the tourism maritime and aviation industries.  He was awarded the Australia Day 2002 City of Cairns Citizen of the Year. 

Bob is a Life Member of Tourism Tropical North Queensland, having served on the Board of the organisation for 15 years, three of these as Chairman and is an Honorary Member of Airports Council International, the peak world airport association.  Bob is also Deputy Chairman of the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair.

Bob is a Vietnam veteran after graduating from the Officer Training Unit with the rank of 2Lt, he served in SVN from 1970 to 1971.

DIVISION 1 COUNCILLOR BRETT MOLLER

Brett Moller was the elected candidate for Division 1 at the 2016 local government election.

Brett is a fourth generation resident from his father’s side (who settled in Gordonvale) and third generation grandson of a Greek emigrant small business owner on his mother’s side (who settled at Garadunga south of Babinda).

He is a respected lawyer previously operating his law offices in the southern corridor communities of Edmonton, Gordonvale and Babinda.

Brett is a former Chair of Ports North and State President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland. He currently serves as Secretary and Deputy Chair of Regional Development Australia Far North Queensland and Torres Strait, and is a strong contributor to his local communities through membership, sponsorship and as honorary solicitor to many sporting and community organisations, where he has helped with pro bono legal advice where he is able.

His passion is rural and regional towns and cities rejuvenation and revitalisation, and improving the liveability of Cairns wherever residents choose to live, work and play.

During his first term as Councillor, Brett has held the following positions on behalf of Council: Member of Council’s Audit Committee; Board Member and Finance Committee Member of Cairns Art Gallery Limited; Former Chair of Council’s Governance Committee; and Member of Cairns River Improvement Trust.

DIVISION 2 COUNCILLOR JOHN SCHILLING

John Schilling was the elected candidate for Division 2 at both the 2012 and the 2016 local government elections.

John is owner/director of Mac Constructions (NQ), and was well known as the face of local home building companies such as Mac Homes, David McCoy, Homes and Lander Homes.

John was born in Bowen, and grew up in Sydney’s outer West. John moved to Cairns in 1979 after spending three years involved in farming and mining on the Atherton Tableland. John is married to Margaret and they have two adult children.

John has held the position of Chair of Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee during a time when projects such as the Lake Street redevelopment, the Lake Street to Airport Drive extension, and the widening to four lanes of Aumuller Street.

John  was the Chair of the Steering Committee which was charged with delivering the new Tobruk Pool and The Precinct which included the construction of the new Cairns Performing Arts Centre and the redevelopment of Munro Martin Parklands.

John is very active in his community and has overseen the delivery of the Edmonton Leisure Centre with the installation of the PCYC as managers. John has been a long term volunteer at the PCYC and spends 6 – 8 hours per week teaching Martial Arts to a group of around 60 children and adults at the Club.

John has been a principle advocate for the Walker Road Sporting Precinct and has worked closely with all of the user groups. He has been behind upgrades to Cairns Motorcycle Club’s motocross track at Edmonton and the purchase of land and the establishment of the Edmonton Men’s Shed where he was a foundation member.

John secured the purchase of land at Petersen Road and the construction of two new rectangular sporting fields taking the total facility to four fields currently enjoyed by both Rugby League and Rugby Union. The remaining balance land has been developed into twelve allotments which when sold will return approximately $1 million to Cairns ratepayers.

John found a home for Barrier Coast Archery at Vico Rd Gordonvale and lso played a large role in the securing of land for noisy and hard to locate sports such as the Model Aero Club and Cairns Kart Club. The Cairns Kart Club have recently announced the completion of their Master Plan detailing track and facilities proposed and a business plan which includes a Driver Training program and provision for disabled motorsports, inline skating, electric and human powered vehicles, motorhome facilities and a criterium track for the Cairns Cycling Club.

John has worked hard to secure funding for the new Edmonton Pool at Sugarworld with construction expected to commence in the coming year. John has also worked closely with Southside Gymnastics to complete plans to upgrade their Roberts Road facility more than doubling the footprint of the building.

John has been involved in the major road upgrades in Division 2 such as Logomeir Rd, Bicentennial Rd and Mill Rd and some 5km of new walking/cycling paths to connect the community.

John is a long time attendee at P&C’s at Hambledon School, Isabella School, St Therese’s School and Bentley Park College and has served as a volunteer at many fetes and fundraisers during his term.

DIVISION 4 COUNCILLOR (DEPUTY MAYOR) TERRY JAMES

A third generation Cairns local, Terry James was the elected candidate for Division 4 at both the 2012 and 2016 local government elections.

Born and educated in Cairns, Terry has been a small business owner in the region for more than 40 years. 

Terry has been Deputy Mayor for the past 8 years; was the former Chair of Council’s Planning and Environment Committee; and represents Council on several community committees including the District Disaster Management Group, and District Disaster Recovery Committee.

Terry is also currently Chair of the Cairns Local Disaster Management Group.

DIVISION 5 CANDIDATE AMY EDEN

‘Almost a local’, Amy and her husband moved to Cairns in 2003 and have been here ever since.

Amy completed her Bachelor of Social Work from JCU Smithfield in 2008 and has more than 12 years’ experience developing, delivering and managing a broad range of programs and projects, with a strategic focus on increasing community engagement and participation in both government and non-government sectors.

Committed to working in the community, Amy has volunteered countless hours to establish and support Manoora Community Garden and deliver positive movement project 3MPride, all while maintaining a successful full-time job as a senior project officer for the Queensland Government, and being a hands-on mum to two vibrant and active young children alongside her husband.

Having secured almost $100,000 in funding to deliver numerous placed-based events in community with thousands attending, Amy has managed the production of several music videos written and sung by Indigenous youth that have gone viral and won awards, delivered mentoring and leadership workshops for youth, and built a large storage shed for the community garden.

Amy has been recognised for her leadership and commitment to the community, winning the Australian Institute of Management Cairns Community Leader (2017) award and the Cairns Business Women’s Club Volunteer of the Year (2017) award and was last year nominated and named a finalist of Cairns Regional Council’s 2019 Citizen of the Year awards.

A team player, Amy supports the work of others by sharing information, knowledge and resources, and displays initiative with a “roll-the-sleeves-up” approach to getting the job done. Guided by the mantra, “actions speak louder than words”, she has built a reputation as a doer – someone who gets things done.

DIVISION 6 CANDIDATE KRISTY VALLELY

Kristy is a proud local of the Redlynch area for over 32 years and is incredibly passionate about this region she calls home. She is a very active member of the business community, founding the well-known online community She Means Business Today along with organising and hosting many community events.

In 2011, Kristy established the online community The Imperfect Mum. Over the past 8 years, what began as a humble grass roots online support network, has grown to become globally recognised for the work it has done for families, helping an estimated 100,000 “imperfect mums” across several countries. In 2016, she was  featured on 60 Minutes Australia for her work in this area.

Kristy’s roots are in the Redlynch and Freshwater community and run deep, having married into the Vallely family who were butchers in the area from 1925 to 2017 when the last butchery was sold.

Kristy and husband Ben have been together for over 26 years and have two children 11 and 13 who attend Redlynch State College. Kristy also sits on the Redlynch State College Council board.

Having come from a family of business owners, Kristy has a deep understanding and passion for buying and supporting local. She has managed the family-owned business Harleys – The Educational Super Store for over 26 years, and today it is one of the largest independently run educational retailers in Queensland.

Career highlights are: Voted the most influential person in FNQ as seen in The Cairns Post; Winner of Australian Entrepreneur award at Ausmumpreneur for “Making a Difference”; Winner of Cairns Regional Council Woman of the Year Award; and Named one of the most clickable woman in Australia by News Website Mamamia.

Kristy says she has never been afraid of hard work and getting in and getting the job done – and would welcome the opportunity to serve the Division 6 community as their elected representative.

DIVISION 7 COUNCILLOR MAX O’HALLORAN

Max O’Halloran was the elected candidate for Division7 at both the 2012 and 2016 local government elections.

Max has lived in Cairns since 1978, and has owned Tidal Seafood Traders (Cairns) for the past 25 years.

The former Footscray (now Western Bulldogs) and Carlton AFL player is a life member and coach with Cairns AFL and former president of Cairns Jockey Club.

He is also a life member at the Tobruk Memorial Pool, North Cairns Football Club, an AFL merit award recipient, and Patron of the Cairns Band and Rondo Theatre.

Max was the former Chair of Council’s Sport, Community Services and Cultural Committee.

DIVISION 8 CANDIDATE RHONDA COGHLAN

As a young mum Rhonda and husband Russell relocated their family of four to Cairns in 1992, settled in Yorkeys Knob where she resided for the next 20 years before moving to Smithfied.

From the outset while working full time and managing a young family, she was heavily committed to the local community, getting involved in Junior Soccer, Junior Netball, Yorkeys Knob State School P&C, Cairns Junior Choral Society  and also Junior Rugby League.

This commitment to the community continues today. Rhonda is a proud and integral part of the Northern Pride operation. She has volunteered with the club for 11 years and was rewarded for her efforts with the “John O’Brien Club Person of the year” for 2019.

Rhonda also participated in the Cairns to Cooktown Cardiac Challenge for the fourth time in 2019, with her team raising over $17,000 for the FNQ Hospital Foundation in 2019 and raising more than $40,000 over four years.

She is a member and graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a member and Committee Member of Skal International Cairns. Rhonda is a proud supporter and member of the Cairns Chamber of Commerce and the Cairns Business Women’s Club.

Rhonda has worked in the finance industry for more than 25 years with 20 years at Suncorp Bank in various senior roles (Branch Manager, Financial Planner), and now works in the superannuation industry as a relationship manager/business development manager for one of the largest funds in the country.

Rhonda has a reputation for innovative ideas and having a “red hot crack”. Listening to every idea before making a decision and making it happen. She understands the need for growth in Cairns, the importance of assessing all development applications against sustainability criteria and the balancing act required to protect this beautiful tropical environment which is Cairns’ most valuable asset.

Rhonda is looking to have a say in the future of Cairns and wants to give the loudest voice to Division 8.