Born and raised at Cunnamulla, I began my working career in banking. On weekends I rode motorbikes and did stock work on a family leased property.

After marrying a local grazier I embraced living on the land and all it encompassed. Enduring the drought of the early 1980s, which saw most of our stock sent on agistment from Muttaburra in the north to Talwood in the east, was a tough time and I still remember the day I looked to the blue skies and screamed for rain – desperation was in the air we breathed as we watched our stock struggle for survival.

I was actively involved in the Cunnamulla community holding positions such as Sacred Heart School P&F Chairman, Cunnamulla Polo Club Treasurer and active membership of the RSL Club and Cunnamulla & District Show Society.

Our Hayfield Holdings entity included a Poll Merino Sheep Stud, Santa Gertrudis Stud and an irrigated Lucerne farm on the banks of the Warrego River. I did my share of picking up lambs, woolclassing and feeding out hay and corn to hungry stock.

After my husband suffered a serious illness in 1994, we sold out and started a new life in Toowoomba. It was also a great opportunity to educate our children, Asti & Todd, at good schools without the need for them to leave home and be boarders.

I am currently the Development Coordinator at Downlands College and have held a number of positions before commencing this position in 2007 – Blue Care Executive PA; Self-employed Share Trader; St Vincent’s Hospital Marketing Associate; SQRDGP Program Manager.

They say there is a book in all of us so whilst studying life coaching I wrote and self-published a book ‘Love your Body, Massage your Mind and Soothe your Soul’ which sells as a resource tool for anyone wanting a bit of motivation or just feeling a bit flat through to those suffering depression.

Some life tips we should read every day to keep us motivated – Click here

I have been actively involved in many community groups including Zonta International and the YWCA. I am currently a financial member of the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce, Toowoomba Turf Club, Women on Boards, YWCA, Women in Racing and the Qld Rural Women’s Network.

I have been a Board Member at Fairholme College and am currently in my second term as a Director on the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce.

For as long as I can remember, I have always been keen to be involved in protecting our basic quality of life and the freedom that democracy provides in our great country. So you understand the person and where I stand, below are just a few of my beliefs –

• that ALL people residing in Australia are entitled to equality, that no one person is entitled to more than others. We all face the same cost of living and racism generally only exists when there are different rules for different people
• that one should be responsible for one’s own actions – if you trip over on the footpath or in someone’s backyard you either weren’t looking where you were going or you shouldn’t have been there…don’t blame or sue someone else for your error
• that if you aren’t pulling your weight in your workplace and are asked to work a bit harder – that isn’t bullying; if you ARE pulling your weight and are being harassed into doing unreasonable work there are procedures in place to protect you. This system shouldn’t be abused by under performers
• that if you are unemployed and receiving Government assistance, you should take up the free opportunities available to improve your skills and make yourself more appealing to employers
• that RED TAPE in this country is stifling business which in turn stifles the economy and employment opportunities along with encouraging cheap imports which are slowly but surely suffocating our home grown products which are stringently regulated whilst the imports are not…