Councillor Column - Councillor John Furnell

Hello Burdekin

It’s wonderful to see a local paper back, congrats to all involved and welcome Sam to the bountiful Burdekin.

My name is John Furnell and I have been a Councillor since being elected in 2020. Having grown up in Sydney where I pursued a teaching degree after completing school, it was a visit to South Molle Island in 1984 with two friends from college that ultimately prompted my relocation to North Queensland. Two years of island life changed in 1986 with a transition to the Burdekin with Lisa Perry and our first business venture “LJs Pizza”. From there Lisa went on to another business venture with sister-in-law Kay Perry in “Fabrics n Décor”.

My journey turned back to the health field by completing my Enrolled Nursing at Ayr Hospital, Registered Nurse training at the old Townsville General Hospital and into the Queensland Ambulance Service for the next twenty years at Ayr Station. During this time I was able to complete a Nursing Degree and Masters in Health Science (majoring in Health Promotion). It was also a chance to return to the Army Reserve achieving the Rank of Captain.  

A medical challenge in 2013 led to three years of rehabilitation and workplace testing before being medically discharged from Queensland Ambulance Service and a reassessment of my future. I was fortunate to be able to return to nursing at Ayr Hospital and continue involvement with our current business, ‘Burdekin Swim School’ led by Lisa Furnell, now nudging 30 years teaching Burdekin children to swim. Lisa is one of the hardest workers I’ve come across, next to my mother Val who raised five children on her own after the death of my father Douglas when I was eight and Lisa’s parents Norm and Maureen Perry.    

We have three adult children, Ryan, Sarah and Joshua who all lived away but have now moved back to the Burdekin. Along with their partners, Jamie, Matt and Brittany they have bought houses and set down roots in the Burdekin. We are now blessed with five grandchildren, Ali 2, Milla 2, Olly 1, Abby 1 and newborn Summer.

This has given me a greater impetus to work towards making Burdekin the best it can be and work towards a liveability we can all be proud of. I find Council a positive way to contribute to the betterment of the Burdekin. My Council areas are the Burdekin Community Association, Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre, Burdekin Local Disaster Management Group, Community and Cultural Development Advisory Group, Local Authority Waste Management Advisory Committee, North Queensland Resource Recovery Group and Townsville Area Palliative Care Group. Along with my personal interest organisations Ayr SLSC, Burdekin Men’s Shed, Burdekin Youth Council, Friends of the Theatre and the Home Hill Choral Society to name a few, I have the opportunity to interact with many ‘Burdekinites’ of all ages.

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