I originally come from Falmouth, a small rural village on the North East coast of Tasmania where I lived with my working class parents and five brothers. I arrived in Cairns in 1982 after travelling extensively and living in remote areas in Western Australia and in the Northern Territory. In 1984 I bought a house at Machans Beach and have lived in Far North Queensland for more than 25 years.

I had a wide range of work experiences - motel manager, teacher, breakfast cook and mining treatment plant operator - before joining the state public service where I held senior managerial positions in TAFE and the departments involved in employment, training, families and communities.

All my life I have worked in community groups and I strongly support diverse groups as being the foundation of a healthy society; hence, I am always out and about at community events and functions whether it's the Babinda Harvest Festival, the Miallo School fete or the launch of the new Farmers Market.

One of the books that has greatly influenced me is The Power Principle: Influence with Honour by Blaine Lee. I think it's important to have a sound value base before going into local government. My values are based on integrity and respect for people and for the environment.

I want to lead Council to work in new and innovative ways and collaborate with businesses, community organisations and the State and Federal government to make our region strong. We live in the most stunning area in the nation; a region that is renowned both nationally and internationally. We need to keep our tropical character and the lifestyle that brought us here in the first place; and continues to bring tourists here too.

I am proud to be the first female Mayor of Cairns and a role model for women and girls.

My only son, James, and new daughter-in-law Kim, are both teachers who moved to Cairns in 2009 and have purchased a house in Manunda.

Whilst I hold a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Education from the University of Tasmania and a Graduate Diploma of Business Management from Central Queensland University, it is the learnings from my varied life and work experiences which sustain me in the challenging role of mayor.