‘Nipper’ has eye on big picture

EDWARD “Nipper” Brown vowed to draw on years of experience with Mareeba Shire Council if the voters of Cook give him the nod at the October 31 election.

While agreeing the council fundamentals of “roads, rates and rubbish” were different to the issues facing state representatives Mr Brown (right) said the community’s needs must be considered in the same way.

“I’ve never been one to shy away from doing what’s right for Mareeba and I know I can do the same for the electorate of Cook,” he said at his LNP campaign launch at Mareeba on Tuesday.

“I’ve travelled through Cape York, I know what we need, I know how to fight for it.

“It’s crucial for regional Queensland to regain relevance at state level (and) I will work hard to win voters’ trust before the October 31 election.”

Mr Brown was born and raised at Julatten and now calls Mutchilba home. He was instrumental in securing the Savannah in the Round music festival when serving on the council. He also successfully lobbied for a bus turnaround for Julatten State School that meant students did not cross the road, stopped Dimbulah Kindergarten from closing and founded Mutchilba Community Dinners to improve social connections.

“Mareeba is a business and farming hub that is the gateway to the Cape, you then have tourism and environmental issues in Port Douglas and Mossman, plus the needs of Indigenous communities further north,” he said. “I have experience dealing with all these subjects, speaking to people from all backgrounds and I have no qualms about dealing with ministers in Brisbane.”

He said reopening an electoral office in Mareeba would be one of his first acts if elected.

Queensland senator Susan McDonald attended the launch and said the people of Cook had a “golden opportunity to elect a tried and true champion of the Far North”.

“Nipper wears his heart on his sleeve, he’s a family man, a community servant, and his knowledge of public office and getting things done would be invaluable for everyone in Cook,” she said