Barack Obama has won the 2008 U.S. presidential election, defeating John McCain and becoming the first African - American to hold the nation’s highest office. full story

Congratulations Obama on a landslide victory!

What an exciting time for the citizens of America.
This man has the intelligence and potential to create real and powerful changes that will go down in history hopefully bringing prosperity and unifying all of America.

Barack Obama’s Victory Acceptance Speech

[Information and images via CNN and the Chicago Tribune]

On Wednesday night it was off to catch up with the ladies for a mid week dinner. We met at Hoolihans for some drinks and a chat then decided to catch up with Dom & Di at Dom’s Cantina for dinner. As per usual I thoroughly enjoyed my steak burger!

 

I spoke and had many laughs with Jan Rohozinski who recently ran and missed out on the State Hervey Bay seat against Ted Sorensen for the newly formed LNP. It’s always nice to be in the company of knowledgeable and well articulated women.

 

The political buzz over the past couple of weeks has got me thinking, what will happen at the next Federal election for Hinkler?

 

hhhmmmm…..

 

Has Jan been running around with Neville lately?

Has Foley decided if he will stay Independent? (Hi Chris!)

Will Dixon consider running against Foley to raise his profile?

Or does Dixon have his sights set on Neville’s seat?

And what are you up to Mr Messenger? (long time no hear!)

 

We’ll just have to wait and see…..

On Friday night at the Hervey Bay RSL Ted Sorensen, former Mayor of Hervey Bay was named as our LNP Candidate. Mr Sorensen will run against Mr Andrew McNamara in the next State Election.

LNP State President, Bruce McIver said he was excited by the prospect of having Mr Sorensen out listening to the local community and working hard to raise the issues of the Hervey Bay electorate in the lead up to the next State Election.

“For over ten years now Labor has taken the residents of the Hervey Bay area largely for granted. After over a decade of Beattie-Bligh maladministration it is time the people of Hervey Bay got a representative in State Parliament prepared to speak up on their behalf and ensure their needs and expectations are both listened to and acted on.

“Ted is determined to become part of the new LNP team which offers new solutions and new approaches to the everyday issues affecting the lives of residents of the Hervey Bay.” Mr McIver said.

“His dedication to the Hervey Bay region is without parallel. Ted has dedicated himself to ensuring the local community thrives and prospers as Mayor, and I expect Ted will continue to see that this happens as part of the a future Springborg-led LNP State Government.”

Click here to read more….

I decided to check out the LNP Policies & principles online more closely and feel they do seem to adequately sum up the Australia Way of Life.

Democratic Principles
(b) in which an intelligent and free Australian Democracy shall be maintained by:

• Preservation of the Westminster system of Government;
• Parliament controlling the executive and the law controlling all;
• Independence of the judiciary;
• Recognition of federal, state and local government;
• Freedom of speech, religion, association and the media;
• Freedom of citizens to choose their own way of living and of life subject to the rights of others and the laws of the land and the protection of private property;
• Equality of opportunity for all and protecting the people against exploitation;
• Looking primarily to the encouragement of individual initiative and private enterprise as the dynamic force of progress;
• Developing to the fullest extent a national spirit in Australia;

Council Releases New Logo click here to read more…

1. Looks great! Professional! Sharp! Modern!

2. Tendered locally!
“When our design team saw the opportunity to compete for the task of designing the new Bundaberg Regional Council logo we were not about to give up that opportunity easily.”

3. Council narrowed the selection to one local design group (local being the operative word!)

4. A very reasonable design cost!

5. And the Bundy website is also designed locally! The Fraser Coast one is done in Brisbane!

Well done to the Bundaberg Council, you lead by example in support of local business, very impressed!

Fraser Coast Regional Councillor Anne Nioa didn’t even put out a tender process!!!

Thanks for the offer Anne, I’ll bear that in mind if I ever see a tender process….

Do you like the look of the new Hervey Bay logo? - please click on the poll to the right.

Do you feel the Fraser Coast Logo & Branding should have been tendered to local business?
Please feel FREE to comment on the email correspondence below …..sorry it is so long winded!

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Hello Jeanette

Thank you for your email.

Anne Maree Althaus was the only person approached to design the Logo - the reason as stated was the tight timeframes and the standing relationship with Council.  The process followed is in accordance with the Local Government Act.  There was no necessity to go to tender for the Logo, nor with the magazine (although we did go through that process for the later)

As mentioned previously, there is ample opportunity to tender for upcoming projects in the future and I look forward to your company submitting Expressions of Interest.

Anne  

Cr. Anne Nioa
Fraser Coast Regional Council
anne.nioa@frasercoast.qld.gov.au
mb: 0418 741 624

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From: Jeanette Maynes [mailto:jeanette@designhouse.com.au]
Sent: Tuesday, 7 October 2008 9:58 AM

Hi Anne,

Thank you for your email, I’m a little confused as your response has not answered my questions in the slightest.

My questions were clearly directed at the logo design yet you keep mentioning the magazine that has nothing to do with my queries?

You clearly state below that Anne Maree Althaus from Mt Gravatt was the only person approached re the Fraser Coast logo.

As there was no tender process within the Fraser Coast Region, how can this possibly be seen as an expressions of interest process or transparent business practice.

There are a number of businesses within my industry in the Fraser Coast that are awaiting a more direct honest response or preferably an apology from Council as you could imagine the majority are appalled and found this quite offensive.

Kind regards

Jeanette Maynes JP(Qual)
GENERAL MANAGER / GRAPHIC & WEBSITE DESIGNER

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From: Anne Nioa (HB) [mailto:Anne.Nioa@frasercoast.qld.gov.au]
Sent: Monday, 6 October 2008 3:30 PM

Dear Jeanette,
Thank you for your previous email, and I hope that you have received your copy of “Our Fraser Coast” magazine by now.  Listed below are the answers to the issues you raised last week.

1. Why was not a single business approached in the Fraser Coast Region?

Read more »

Recently I was reading Councillor Sue Brooks Blog and came a cross a mention in regards to the new Fraser Coast Regional Council Logo; 

Logo and Branding

….On Thursday we launched the new regional branding and corporate logo. This was developed via Cr Anne Nioa’s portfolio. I like the overall effect that the branding gives. The Fraser Coast wording is similar to that used by Tourism Queensland so it avoids confusion. I don’t think it would be possible to produce something that everyone likes and I personally don’t ‘like’ some minor aspects of the ‘package’ but I’m glad that we have an image with which  to ‘label’ ourselves. The magazine published by Council called “Our Fraser Coast” showcases the branding and you should receive a copy via your letterbox in the near future. Do let us know if you don’t receive one by the end of Sept.  Advertising in this magazine offset the cost of producing it.

This was my response: 

Hi Sue,

New logo, hhhhhhhhhmmmmm, I guess it looks a tad fresher than the font in a box (publisher clipart) (Pictured right) we were previously using to represent out prestigious area. (Shame!)

I’ve noticed the new logo (pictured below) is designed by a non local lady in Mt Gravatt who does not have a business website, so I am wondering how our council could view her portfolio to come to a decision that she would be best suited to design a logo for an area she doesn’t reside in. Is she related to (a Councillor) * by any chance?

I have also noticed the Fraser Coast Regional Council website is designed and hosted by a business in Roma Street Brisbane.

Also could you please advise who is designing & printing the new magazine, will this also be a business that is not located in the Fraser Coast Regional Council area?

I am astounded that the Council so obviously does not support or put money back into the local advertising | marketing industry when there are 25+ graphic designers, printers, website designers and hosting providers within the Fraser Coast. Many are ‘Award Winning’ in their fields and are more than capable of performing the required tasks and achieving extraordinary results!

Your views on this matter would be greatly appreciated…

Kind regards
Jeanette

Ps. As for the Hervey Bay symbol “What the ….?”
*moderated by Sue

Would you please be kind enough to direct my queries to Anne Nioa as it was her portfolio, she may have some insight? 

I am wondering what others think on this? Please comment….

[Article via The Fraser Coast Chronicle.]

by Jeanette Maynes

Today I was officially invited to attend the community Cabinet Official Luncheon held in the Fraser Room at the Hervey Bay Boat Club with the Hon Anna Bligh MP Premier of Queensland and the Cabinet.

Finger food and light refreshments were served as the guests mingled with the politicians asking questions of relevance and raising suggestions and issues of concerns within our area.

Anna seemed in high spirits and on the mend from her fall / recent injury. Anna was very articulated and interesting speaking confidently in front of the crowd.

Two local Police officers were presented medals of honour from Judy Spence Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport for their long service within the Queensland Police department and the local community.

The Premier presented Fraser Coast Regional Mayor Mr Mick Kruger with a cheque for 4.9 million from the government to go towards the proposed Waterpark. We were able to view the actual plans of the Waterpark that will be located at the end of Main Street next to the seafront oval.

The Mayor was also presented a beautiful photograph of the harbour area in Hervey Bay taken in 1973.

Nancy Bates editor of the Chronicle was mentioned for her 20 years service to the area. The longest period a woman has been an editor in Australia.

Anna also personally autographed my official invite stating, “You go Girlfriend!”

I also met and shook hands with Mr Kerry Shine the Attorney-General and Justice and caught up with our local politicians Andrew McNamara MP for Hervey Bay and Chris Foley MP for Maryborough.