Met my wife Olga and came up to her hometown Proserpine in 1969. I worked on the sugar harvest and we married in 1970. Always a keen sportsman I had played Rugby League, Union and did Amateur Boxing all over the Riverina. In Proserpine I joined the Lions Club and played Rugby League for the Brahmans.
Always being interested in Community affairs I endeavoured to educate people on Disability and have served on many committees and spoken to many local schools and other groups and organisations. I was on the Qld. Disability Council for four years. I have been Treasurer and Bulletin Editor for the Proserpine Lions Club and Patron of the Whitsunday Athletics Club and Whitsunday Triathlon Club.
In 2003 a Councillor passed away suddenly and I won a bi-election and served out her term on the then Whitsunday Shire Council. I worked for the Local Council for 28 years, so have seen both sides.
I do not belong to any Political Party or Organisation. I am a member of Sporting Wheelies and the Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Association. I do not believe party politics have a place in Local Government and I will be running independently. I have been attending Council meetings regularly over the many years, and have taken a great interest in all Council affairs.
For the past nine years I have been Treasurer of the Proserpine Homes for Aged Persons which provides low cost accommodation for independent living for the over 65. There are 40 units at present in Proserpine with no Government funding. Our small Committee overseas the running of the complexes, which are now self funded with the occasional grant or donation. I also organise much of the maintenance, new buildings and improvements.
Alan Dufty for Whitsunday Council - Division 2
