10 min Video - Mission Beach Tourism meeting 12th February 2008

I firmly believe that the composition of the first Cassowary Coast Regional Council should be made up of people with fresh thinking, new approaches, proven management skills, professional attitudes and disciplined behaviour.

I would welcome the opportunity to work with other energetic, purposeful leaders who are committed to bringing about the changes necessary to unite and govern the new Shire with responsibility and vision.

What can I offer?

I understand country and small communities. I was born and raised in a farming community in Mudgee, NSW.

I have proven abilities in leadership, financial discipline, managing change and business building.

- My first career was teaching, graduating from Wagga Wagga Teachers College in 1970 and teaching for 6 years in State Schools in Sydney.

- My second career was in ‘big business’ where I held senior executive roles in Sydney, Melbourne & Adelaide. I also have a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the AGSM (UNSW) graduating in 1989.

- My third career was entrepreneurial self-employment as a specialist consultant to business in matters of strategic planning and leadership supplemented with lecturing in Business Management at Williams Business College in Sydney.

- My fourth career was as a sea-changer when I moved to Mission Beach some 11 years ago and took on a part time role as Human Resources Manager with Johnstone Shire Council to establish employee training systems.

At the same time, I turned my hand to small business as part owner of a coffee shop and later, a newsagency.

Currently, I have a small complex of holiday apartments.

I have demonstrated my commitment to community involvement. While my activities so far have been concentrated in Mission Beach, I am ready to spread my interests to the broader region. Working as a team member of several different groups of people, my involvement ranges from

- Fun, lifestyle activities such as Bicentenary Celebration ‘Flares on the Beach’ 2000 and Centenary of Federation ‘Picnic on the Beach’ 2001

- Beautification & amenity projects such as the planting of native gardenias on the approach into Mission Beach, the Ulysses Walk and Sculpture Park,

- Governance issues such as advocating change to the CSC Town Plan to protect the low scale density and conservation values of the area, championing the integration of Mission Beach by removal of the boundary, unrelenting scrutiny of Council (CSC) decision-making

- Service and economic issues including tourism development as Treasurer of Mission Beach Tourism, delegations to all levels of Government as an Executive member of Mission Beach Community Association, improving availability of services as Chair of the steering committee of the Community Bank-Bendigo Bank.

Over the next few months, I will be taking the opportunity to door knock throughout Division 3 to meet with as many of you as possible. In the meantime, I invite you to raise issues and concerns on my website www.rhondamurdoch.com. Your comments will help me to further identify priorities and policies in relation to representing you in Division 3 if you choose to elect me.