This Thursday 7 September is the official date for my tenth anniversary as your Federal representative in Canberra.
From day one when I decided to do this, I knew that to stay in the job I had to listen, work hard and make a difference.
It was President Kennedy who said, ‘We do this not because it is easy but because it is hard.
President Kennedy of course was talking about putting a man on the moon but the reason the quote popped into my head was because I felt that for so many years growing up and then having my working life in Central Queensland, I always felt that things could be better.
I wanted to turn on the lights and get the place that I loved and live in moving forward.
I wanted people to be proud of the place they lived.
I am proud to say that since September 7, 2013, there has been over $6 billion dollars in investment made in Capricornia.
Prime Minister’s and Ministers I have had the pleasure of working with have often joked that when they see me walking up the corridor to ask for money for a project it is quicker to just say yes because if they do not, I will just keep coming back until they do.
It is said in jest but not completely, because when I want money for a project for the region, I will not take no for an answer.
There are of course many large infrastructure projects like Rookwood Weir, Rockhampton Airport, Alliance Airlines Heavy Maintenance Hanger, Beef Week etc. but it is the smaller projects that touch people where they live that are often the ones, I am most proud of.
I am proud of the many Volunteer Grants Programs which help not for profit organisations to make life simpler for their precious volunteers who give of their precious time week in week out for something bigger than themselves, to help those in need.
Some of the organisations who received grant money recently were Moranbah Race club, Collinsville Lions Club, Pioneer Valley Rail Trail, and Sarina Rugby League Football club.
I am also very proud of the day I obtained the funding for the Rockhampton Hospital Car Park.
It was not easy I can assure but I do believe the turning point was the moment I had the Federal Minister at the time Darren Chester here to have a look and we had to park about four blocks away from the Hospital’s main entrance (I may have done that on purpose).
Minister Chester and I like so many locals had done before made the trek up the hill in the sun and by the time we got to the top Minister Chester said Michelle you can have as much money as you want.
I am also particularly proud of the money I delivered for the Clarke Creek Mobile Phone Tower.
I took the then, Minister for Communications Paul Fletcher out there to show how him in person how this project would make a difference.
This money from the Coalition Government at the time changed the lives of people who lived in Clarke Creek but in that year, there was funding to the communities of Marlborough, Mt Chalmers Road (between Rockhampton and Yeppoon) and Gargett in the Pioneer Valley area of Capricornia, west of Mackay.
But it was Clarke Creek where this share of $100 million dollars really made a difference before this tower was built it would take the local school twenty hours to download the curriculum so the children could learn.
This project changed Clarke Creek for the better.
And finally, the funding I delivered to the Collinsville Queensland Country Women’s Association Hall.
There were hugs all round when this funding came through and now this newly renovated hall is a fundamental part of the Collinsville Community.
That is just three that stand out and there are many more.
My enthusiasm for this privilege to serve you as your Federal Member for Capricornia is as strong as ever and I remain your humble servant and voice in Canberra.
