Mareeba Shire Councillor Candidates 2025

This information was provided by the candidate. 

I completed all schooling in Mareeba with my three sisters.  I worked the family tobacco farm throughout the 1960’s and 70’s. I worked the once local meatworks and served in the Army Reserve for seven years.

I married in 1980 to Anna NASATO from Mutchilba.  I have three children, Vanessa, Sarah and Natalie, all now grown up with successful careers of their own.

I have always maintained a passion for community service.  In 1982 I joined the Australian Federal Police (AFP). For the next 34 years I enjoyed a challenging career as an investigator in Darwin, Canberra and Cairns.  I did two tours overseas each of 9 months duration, peacekeeping in Cyprus and policing Honiara at the time of their civil unrest.   I attained Detective classification and promotion to the rank of Sergeant. I maintained a pivotal role in establishing the North Queensland Joint Operations Group to counter organised crime threats across North Queensland. I was Manager AFP Cairns responsible for investigations and policing of Cairns Airport.

Upon retiring from the AFP, I contracted to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority as a Senior Investigator for 14 months.  I was also engaged as the area manager for the Australian Bureau of Census and Statistics for the 2021 Census.

I have been involved in numerous community volunteer projects and sporting clubs.  I am currently employed casually with Probation and Parole supervising individuals sentenced to community service orders. I am Chair of the Far Northern Volunteer Area Committee of Crime Stoppers Queensland.

With significant professional, community and life experience behind me, my focus as a Councillor will be:

I am results driven and an attentive listener with a vested interest in creating a safe, prosperous and harmonious shire in which to live and work.