POPULAR Fraser Coast Regional Councillor Jade Wellings is calling time on her tenure in local government.
Bugger. She is a cut above.
It’s easy to observe that Jade has served Division 5 with distinction, critical thinking and the pragmatic work ethic that comes from being a working mum loaded with impressive business acumen.
She has engaged in the vast portion of this term as the only woman on Council, but Jade has never hung her hat on that. Far from it.
Her idea of equity stems well beyond tokenism or inclusiveness.
She doesn’t do Council events on the weekend, self-confident enough to know that being a full-time councillor doesn’t mean you have to give up the precious time you can spend with your family, a universal equality afforded to most working members of the community.
Councillors who understand that they are there to serve their constituents, not to be their servants, are a rare breed.
You will always see her with two phones in her hands. One for her job and one for her life. A small insight into her focus on whatever is important at that time gets the sole attention.
She is secure in her abilities, listens actively, and supports others genuinely and without agenda.
I can also tell from personal experience, that she doesn’t have a problem prosecuting a case back to you, that differs from yours.
Elected with a 60% majority in her division, she has championed many campaigns for projects that she feels are really important.
My favourite is when she went after the local law change to allow caravans in local yards for longer, to assist with the housing crisis. That was dogged determination for what is right and an unwavering commitment, fuelled by passion and moral conviction.
Before her time in local government, Jade was a successful businesswoman and she returns to that, post March of next year.
I am sure she will tell you that she has learnt a lot over the last four years. I’d expect an equal balance between what matters and what doesn’t.
Thank you for a job well done Jade. We wish you well.
