My Experience in Local Government: First elected to Bundaberg City Council in 1994 at the age of 31, I represented the Avoca/Branyan area as their Divisional councillor. My first term also showed me the special challenges of amalgamation as our area merged with the city of Bundaberg. I have continued to serve the residents of Bundaberg since then on various council committees including Town Planning; Health and Environment; Finance and Governance; and Youth Committee. I was appointed as Chairman of the Health and Environment for three years and currently serve as Chairman of Engineering Services. I have served a lengthy apprenticeship with two of the regions most respected mayors and I understand completely the role and its responsibilities. My Experience serving the Community outside council: As well as freely giving my time to a number of organisations ranging from the swimming club to school tuckshops, I have worked with these key organisations: ~ 9 years as a Director of the Bundaberg Port Authority, which continues to provide growing infrastructure, business and jobs for the region ~ Member of the Queensland Small Business Advisory Group, providing advice to the Minister regarding issues relating to small business ~ Member of the Wide Bay Burnett Regional Communities forum, engaging with residents across the region and lobbying State Government for improved services and infrastructure ~ Member of the Bundaberg Health Service and Wide Bay TAFE advisory committees ~ Over the years I have taken a lead role in assisting various community groups including the Bundaberg Toy Library; Rats of Tobruk; Life Education; SES; Avoca Neighbourhood Watch; Crimestoppers; Wide Bay Ostomates; Bundaberg and District Historical Museum to name just a few. My Experience in Business: Almost all Australians know Bundaberg as the home of our citys famous rum.I am proud to say that most of Australia's General Practitioners also know Bundaberg as the home of the computer software that has quietly revolutionised the nation's medical practices in the last fifteen years ~ from the company founded by my GP husband, Frank and myself. I am proud of the invaluable skills I have acquired and I'm proud of the contribution our company has made to Bundaberg providing permanent jobs in the medical IT industry. When taken over by a major listed health care company we employed up to 30 highly skilled people in Bundaberg providing support and developing products for more than 15000 doctors throughout Australia. I continue to support Frank in a new Healthcare IT venture, but without day to day involvement. The new Mayor of the Regional Council will need imagination as well as a capacity for hard work. I will bring the experience of running that highly innovative and successful business to the role of Mayor. I won't bring the potential conflicts of interest that put a question mark over some local business people when they run for local government. As well as invaluable hands on administrative experience I have continued academic training, gaining a Graduate Diploma of Management and nearing completion of my Masters of Business Administration. My Background: My family settled in the Bundaberg region in the mid 1800s. I was born in Gin Gin ~ in Kolan Shire ~ and raised in Booyal - in Isis Shire. My parents owned and operated the Booyal Service Station for nearly 20 years. My father, Les Tucker worked at the Isis Sugar Mill until his retirement in the mid 1980s. I moved into Bundaberg to complete my General Nursing Certificate at the Bundaberg Base Hospital. My husband Frank and I chose Bundaberg as the place we wanted to settle and raise our family. Frank is a local GP. Our son Robert is now living in Brisbane studying Jazz Guitar at the Conservatorium of Music and our daughter Emily will be in Year 11 at Shalom College in 2008. My experience as a nurse has taught me a great deal about helping people in a direct, common sense way. I am a practical "hands on" type of person who is not afraid of hard work. My Goals in the first term of Bundaberg Regional Council: My aim as mayor is to be a firm but fair leader for the new Regional Council, giving a strong voice to all residents irrespective of their old local government boundaries. Quite simply there is no point to the new amalgamated council unless we can deliver more services and better services for each dollar of rates you pay ~ at every level. And there is no point to the bigger more efficient regional council unless it also continues to be your local council, providing basic services ~ such as collecting garbage and fixing potholes ~ to more people in Bundaberg Region. With your help and the help of the rest of the community, with the cooperation of dedicated council employees we will set a list of priorities and put them into action. And I want your help with those priorities right now, even before the elections. What is important to you? Ring, write or contact me on my website ~ www.pyefinch.com.au BRIEF PERSONAL RESUME: Education and Professional Qualifications 1979 ~ Senior School Certificate - Gin Gin State High School 1983 ~ General Nursing Certificate - Bundaberg Base Hospital 1994 ~ Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing) - Central Qld University 2004 ~ Graduate Diploma of Management - University of Southern Qld 2008 ~ Masters of Business Administration (1 subject to complete) - USQ Work History: 1980 ~ 1983 ~ Student Nurse - Bundaberg Base Hospital 1983 ~ 1995 ~ Various Registered Nurse positions in regional Queensland,including the Mater and Friendly Society Private Hospital in Bundaberg 1992 ~ 1999 ~ Director/Manager - Medical Director Software, Bundaberg 1994 ~ 2000 ~ Elected Member Bundaberg City Council 1999 ~ 2002 ~ Customer Service Manager - Health Communication Network Ltd, Bundaberg 2004 ~ Current ~ Elected Member, Bundaberg City Council 2004 ~ Current ~ Managing Director, Best Practice Software Pty Ltd Awards: 2006 ~ Finalist ~ Optus Challenger Spirit Award for Outstanding Industry Achievement, Women In Technology