Councillor to call it quits

Councillor to retire

By Lea Parkes

With just over 12 months until Queensland’s 2020 local government elections, a number of Sunshine Coast media outlets had been putting pressure on Cr Jenny McKay to find out if she will run for council again.

Last week while at a media event at Pattemore House in Maleny she advised the media that after nearly 20 years in the job she has decided that this will be her last term as an elected representative.

She has, however, warned her constituents that while she believes it is the right time for her to make this decision, she will be working in her usual “full steam ahead” manner until her last day on the job.

When Cr McKay was first elected in 2000 it was in the days of the former Maroochy Council and at that time there was just under 5,000 people per division. Today it’s around 20,000.

“With the amalgamated council in 2008 there came a greater responsibility and commitment to the broader region,” Cr McKay said.

She believes the amalgamated council is better for the coast than three separate councils.

There have been numerous highlights for her in her time in the role including the agreed location of the Maleny aquatic centre, the Mary Cairncross Education Centre and the work she has been able to do internationally. She is looking forward to completing more projects before the end of her term.

Since 2017, Cr McKay has been the Sunshine Coast Council’s only female councillor and while she would like to see a female replace her, she acknowledges that at the end of the day it is most important to get the best person for the job.

While Cr McKay has decided that the time is right to pass the baton onto someone who can bring new ideas and enthusiasm to the role, she is planning to continue to be actively involved in the local community.

Throughout her time as a councillor she has fought her own health battles including breast cancer in 2008. When she has more time in retirement she is looking forward to working to help cancer survivors and the Cancer Council with their work.

Within hours of Cr McKay sharing her decision to retire, one local candidate - the editor of Sunshine Valley Gazette Richard Bruinsma - had already announced his candidacy for the election.

The next local government general election will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2020 so there is still plenty of time for many more candidates to join the race.