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JOE GALEANO - DETAILED RESUME

INTRODUCTION:

I've always lived in Lower Tully, but have spent enough time holidaying in other countries to truly appreciate being Australian. At an early age I began managing the small family canefarm. After I married Pam, a teacher, we bought the farm with just 50 acres under cane, gradually expanded the business, and now have 350 acres under cane. Pam and I have two children and 2 grandchildren.

Community life has always interested me and, over the years, I've been something of a catalyst for change in the area. I always try to take the long-term view.

OUR ENVIRONMENT IS PRECIOUS:

COMMUNITY COMMITTEE WORK:

In 1982 I worked as treasurer of the Lower Tully Primary School 50th Jubilee Committee.

During 1984/85 I was vice president of the Tully High School P & C Association, and president during 1986/87. There were some significant achievements during those four busy years. This experience showed me how effective a group can be when the members work cooperatively. I have maintained links with Tully High because that's where the shire's next generation is being nurtured. When their agricultural projects require the loan of farm machinery and equipment I'm always happy to oblige. In 1999 I arranged for an annual bursary to aid the further education of a deserving Year 12 student. The bursary is a memorial to my late brother. On Speech Day 2003 I proudly accepted a Life Membership of Tully High P&C.

The Tully Bi-Centennial Committee was active for 3 years. I worked on the executive as publicity officer. This committee initiated many projects of lasting value to the shire, such as the Kennedy Bay Walking Track, which is an important tourist attraction.

Soon after the closure of the Bi-Centennial Committee the Country Centres Project called a public meeting. I became a member. One of the many recommendations of this committee was the formation of a Cardwell Shire Community Support Centre, which is now in existence.

Following my involvement with the Country Centres Project, I was invited to an annual general meeting of the Hinchinbrook and Cardwell Shires Development Bureau. I became a board member, and remained on the board until 2001 - serving 5 years deputy chairman and 3 years chairman. In the late eighties the Development Bureau organised a 'Futures Workshop' in Tully led by a professional facilitator to discover the main needs of this shire. The greatest need seemed to be for a Community Support Centre as previously suggested by the Country Centres Project. The Bureau lobbied the State Government and the Council for help with subsidies. In 1991 I became Deputy Chairman of the Development Bureau, and later, Chairman. While I was in the chair the subsidies were approved, the Council contributed and the Cardwell Shire Support Centre was built. It was officially opened in 1994. So I was a Founding Committee member of the Support Centre, however, after a few years I became too busy with other committees to attend meetings. But now, as CSC Mayor, I attend meetings and pay close attention to the Centre's operations. Another initiative of the Development Bureau while I was chairman was the creation, adoption and marketing of the Great Green Way slogan for the promotion of our area. This has been a satisfying success in Australia and overseas.

In 1990 a Land Care public meeting was held, and I was elected to the steering committee. A Cardwell Shire Land Care Group was formed, and I was vice president, representing canefarmers.

I was a member of the Tully Club of Rotary International for about 12 years. One year I chaired Vocational Services and another year, Community Services.

In the year 2000 I was one of the lucky ones chosen by SOCOG to carry the Olympic Torch for community service. That was one of the highlights of my life.

SERVICE AS A CSC DIVISION 2 COUNCILLOR 1991 - 2004:

Concerned about the governance of Cardwell Shire I decided to run for a position on the local Council in 1991. I was elected for Division 2, and held that position for 4 terms, polling well in all elections. In 2000 I was elected Deputy Mayor by unanimous decision. Having worked on so many community committees, I realise how much they need and deserve Council support, so I've tried to assist them to the best of my ability. I have represented Council on many different committees of its own over the years.

Early in my first council term, members of the Mission Beach community formed a group called C4 which was concerned with responsible development and the protection of the Mission Beach icon - the cassowary. A Mission Beach Land Strategy Committee was formed with this group and representatives of all stakeholders including relevant government departments and the Cardwell and Johnstone Shire Councils. I was one of the two Cardwell Shire representatives. This committee met for three years. Finally, a compromise Land Strategy was agreed upon by the two councils, the government departments and the majority of other groups involved.

I was council representative on the board of the Cassowary Coast Development Bureau for 3 years. I have served on the Johnstone and Cardwell Shires Marine Board for 14 years, and on the Cardwell Shire Catchment Coordinating Committee for 3. As vice chairman (often acting chairman) of the River Improvement Trust I assisted in instigating a study to promote well-planned development guidelines for drainage in the Murray Valley area. This study resulted in a government grant of $4.6 million for water management infrastructure. That involved 3 years work. The next 3 years involved a public consultation process to determine how and where the money should be spent, how the environment could be protected, how negative effects for downstream farmers could be avoided etc. We were close to finalising all these aspects when the new Council took over the reigns of the River Improvement Trust in 1997. For 3 years little was achieved. I am now back on the Trust but it is too late to implement the original comprehensive plan. Nevertheless, some impressive works have been carried out in the past few years. Lower Tully School wanted a fishing landing at Hull Heads. I lobbied the River Trust for them, and Dukula Deck was officially opened in August 03. It is popular with children and with adults, especially the elderly.

I was an original member of the Johnstone and Cardwell Shires Joint Facilities Advisory Committee, and have worked on it ever since.

Lower Tully and the Heads residents were concerned for decades about the frequent flooding of the Tully/Hull Road. Their children's education was being constantly interrupted and their own jobs were at risk. In 1991, I began lobbying to have that road lifted above normal flood levels. There were many setbacks, but I didn't give up. Of course, other groups, especially the Lower Tully School P&C, and other councillors helped to lobby as well. But I certainly felt some personal satisfaction when that new road was finally completed in my Division in mid 2003.

Another complaint of Tully Heads residents for many years was the lack of a decent boat ramp. I began lobbying for that and, towards the end of 2003 Tully Heads had its new boat ramp.

I've been lobbying for years for the embattled canefarmers. There was an official inquiry into the canefarmers' problems headed by the Productivity Commission based in Melbourne. I sent a submission to this Inquiry. Parts of my submission were quoted in its Draft Report which was sent to me for response. I sent in a response in January 04.

Sister Cities:

Many Sicilian people in the Cardwell and Johnstone Shires have roots in the Sicilian cities of Sant Alfio and Piedemonte-Etneo, Catania, where respectively, the celebrations of the feasts of The Three Saints and of Saint Gerard originated. The Mayor of Sant Alfio attended the 50th celebration of the Feast of the Three Saints at Silkwood in 2000. Following this event I was speaking with one of the Three Saints committee members, Vince Silvestro. I suggested the idea of a Sister Cities relationship. He was very keen and lobbied the two celebrations committees. I lobbied the councillors of Cardwell and Johnstone Shires. They agreed. The Mayors of the two Sicilian cities agreed. The Mayor of Sant Alfio invited the Mayors of our Shires to attend the Feast of the Three Saints in its original setting in May 03. Barry Moyle accepted, but because of failing health Tip Byrne asked me to attend in his place. This I did, and the two Sicilian Mayors, Barry Moyle and I signed the official Sister City Relationship into being at Piedemonte-Etneo on 30-4-03. The Cardwell Shire paid for nothing but a few small gifts to present to the Sicilian shires. The Mayor of Piedemonte-Etneo visited Tully for the 50th celebration of the feast of Saint Gerard in October 04. I believe that cultural exchange is a broadening experience. My parents emigrated from the Province of Catania in Sicily during the 1920s.

ELECTED MAYOR IN 2004:

I ran with a Division 1 team we called the Independent Alliance - Lorraine Cripps, Rod Bradley and Herc Argyros. Lorraine and Rod were elected and I beat Dr Ken Stark by the narrow margin of 15 votes. Cr Barry Lansdown, elected for Division 3, ran as an independent, but campaigned for me as preferred mayor.

My involvement with the National Party is widely known, and I'm proud of that, but I firmly believe that local government is not the place for party politics. I always stood as an independent for Division 2.  As Mayor I'm happy to cooperate with councillors who are members of other political parties. Local Government should involve local people of all political persuasions working together to make decisions for the long-term good of their shires.

ACHIEVEMENTS FOR CSC AND OUR TEAM OF COUNCILLORS SINCE I WAS ELECTED MAYOR IN 2004:

• Completion of joint CSC/JSC Mission Beach Sewerage Scheme on time and within budget.
• I obtained huge support from other local governments, industry, businesses and community groups for CSC submissions to state and federa governments for funding to 'floodproof' the highway near Tully.  We received the funding commitment.
• CSC disaster management worked well before, during and after Cyclone Larry.
• Quality upgrading of library facilities at Tully and Cardwell.
• Securing state and federal funding of about $3.2 million towards a much-needed multi-purpose community hall within the high school grounds.
• Establishment of an SES group at Mission Beach following Cyclone Larry - 24 active members by January 2008.

HOBBIES:

On a lighter note, I was a member of the Silkwood Clay Target Gun Club for about 25 years, although, for years at a stretch I was too busy to shoot at anything but feral pigs in the cane! I am currently a member of the Atherton Gun Club. In 2002 I competed in the North Queensland Games in Normanton. I won a gold medal for Olympic Trap and a bronze for Double Barrel Points Score. In 2004 at the same games in Cairns I won a silver medal for Down the Line. At the 06 Games in Mackay I competed as a veteran and won a gold medal for the highest overall score.

For a few years I played golf. I love bushwalking, boating, fishing, my vegetable patch, and home gardening with native plants. And, of course, I enjoy spending time with my family.