My Story

I’m 22, and my mum has just died of a devastating disease - mesothelioma cancer. The cancer that killed so many from exposure to asbestos.

My life was seemingly just beginning. I had just graduated from the Queensland Police Service, but in an instant I felt like life as I knew it was over. Little did I know at the time, that my mum’s death would spur me to honour her through a life of community service.

Because it’s exactly how I was raised. To serve others.

I have watched Noosa grow, evolve and morph in many ways since spending my childhood on the banks of the Noosa River with my cousins and older brothers. My loving parents were deeply engrained in the community, being local business owners, members of council and community volunteers.

It was here that a deep connection to the Noosa community became part of who I am today.

My fortunate childhood in Noosa is a big part of why I find myself propelled towards representing the community. I want the same blessed life for my own kids - for all kids of the shire - for generations to come.

Fast forward 15 years following the death of my mother, and I was deeply committed to serving the Noosa community as Senior Constable Jess. I navigated high-stress, dangerous situations as a skilled police negotiator. I used my love of ‘having a chat’ and deep empathy to successfully build relationships and make a positive impact on juvenile offenders and their journey to rehabilitation. My easy-going and approachable nature led me to create deep connections with community members from all walks of life, lending an ear to all who had something to say. I was even awarded acknowledgements and a medal for my service.

But my career highlights weren’t the accolades or the action-packed arrests.

The highlight reel was jotted with the quiet conversations I had with high-school kids about things that matter to them and about making good choices. And the nights I would sit with and listen to concerned residents over neighbourhood safety.

One of my most proud moments as a police officer was when I visited my kid’s school. I stood in their classrooms and talked about safety. And when I caught a glimpse of the pride in their eyes as they watched mummy do her police work, well that was something I’ll never, ever forget.

But with the good comes the bad.

I also saw the worst of what the community went through and more times than I could count, felt powerless to help them and their situation.

I saw our community’s youngest, at-risk and disadvantaged kids in situations I would never have dreamed could be a reality.

I saw kids disengage from their schools, their community and making choices that I feared would lead to a lifetime of hardship.

I saw families broken by domestic violence, and families being pushed to homelessness.

And it was in the midst of these moments I realised that by combining my professional and personal experience, I could make a bigger difference in my community.

So after a decade-long, impeccable career at the Queensland Police Service, I handed in my badge and began the pursuit of the type of community service where I could be part of the change that our community needed to really thrive. Noosa is an amazing place to live and work, but for many, life here is more about surviving.

I want to help all of us, thrive.

So here I am, asking you the Noosa community, to come with me on this journey to help our Shire.

I am not promising I can fix every problem that you may face.

But I do promise to listen.

I do promise to be your advocate.

I promise to take action.

And I hope together, we can make Noosa a better place for all who live here.