CityLife Magazine Second Quarter 2020

CityLife FEATURE
1. Over the years what is the one thing you have come to
appreciate about the city of Cairns?
The beauty of our city and region is unrivalled, however, what I’ve
always been so impressed with is the ingenuity, drive and resilience
of our community at ALL levels and in every sector. We are tough,
hardworking, community minded and we understand the need to
stick together.
2. The region has experienced many tough times
throughout the years, but none quite like we are
experiencing now. What is one message you would like
to give to the people of Cairns at this uncertain time?
Stay strong, we will get through this. We are seeing governments
at all levels stepping up to the plate matching the unprecedented
times, with unprecedented measures.
These measures are focused on our community’s health and
well-being, in addition to our capacity to quarantine our city and
region's commercial sector, ensuring that infrastructure stays in
place and can re-start as we graduate back to normality.
Of course, adversity also brings opportunity and I am so impressed
with the creative ways some businesses are handling this setback,
like the local curtain maker who is now sewing face masks, local
distillers like Wolf Lane who have transitioned to making hand
sanitiser and of course Coles, Woolworths, local IGA’s and Piccones
who have really accepted this challenge and have put in place some
great measures to assist those most vulnerable in our society.
3. Leaders like yourself have united to fight for the region
in what are unprecedented times – what role are you and
your organisation playing in all of this?
From the outset, myself, Warren Entsch and Bob Manning
immediately recognised the need to establish a local leadership
team. In doing so we have provided both our city’s business and
community human services sectors with a strong voice at all levels
of government. We meet twice a week with the goal of representing
our constituents in these important areas and ensuring the flow of
information from government back into our community.
I have always acknowledged strong leadership and co-operation in
these challenging times is part of what’s needed and expected from
our community. Ensuring Brisbane and Canberra get our message
is essential and we are doing just that.
Michael Healy MP
State Member for Cairns
I am doing my best to get the messages out there by speaking every
morning on local radio stations, doing television interviews and in
my daily video update on my Facebook page. In addition, although
my office doors are closed to the public we are still here, answering
calls and emails, assisting with many and varied enquiries and will
continue to do this through the coming weeks and months.
4. While there are many negatives about the current
situation we all find ourselves in – what is one thing you
are looking forward to doing while in isolation?
Getting through my wife’s list of things which need to be done
around the house.
CityLife 23 Magazine