John Furnell

My wife and I have been involved in two successful businesses, “L Js Pizza Inn” for five years and “Burdekin Swim School” for thirty years. I’ve been involved in many local volunteer organisations in various capacities. Whilst in the Burdekin I have worked in Public Service as a Paramedic for over twenty years and a Registered Nurse. The mix of private enterprise and public service employment helps me understand the pros and cons of both in the local council arena.      

‘Burdekin Safe’– I want people to feel safe in the community, to have community look after community by giving a ‘hand up’ when required. The recent cyclone, Kirrily, demonstrated how community can work together and help their neighbour. Three challenges of community are safety, housing and cost of living which confront governments at all levels. The challenge for me is to work at a local level daily to see what is achievable and work with other tiers of government.

I believe people want a community they can be proud of and enhances community liveability. I believe they want someone who is community focussed.  I believe people want the basics that council provide done well ie roads, rubbish, drainage, recreation, culture  etc. The challenge for me is to work each day on continual improvement to be a better representative for the people of the Burdekin, listen, ask the hard questions and seek advice when needed to make a fair decision.

If elected I will “reassess” ie where I was in 2020, what I have learnt in the last four years at local Council and what can I do better in the next four years. I really don’t look at the first 100 days, I look at each day. I believe in the current ‘strategic planning’ ie having a worthy project, planning and designing, funding and implementing. You may only have ‘one shot’ at getting it right and it needs to benefit the whole shire.

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