MEMBER PROFILE: ROB PYNE MEMBER PROFILE: ROB PYNE MAN ON A MISSION After securing his seat for four more years in April’s regional elections, South Cairns councillor ROB PYNE intends to finish what he has started. until deciding to run for election to the Cairns of jobs I am very keen to get finished in this S the son of a former Mayor have any political ambitions. “No, Regional Council in 2008. So, did the “Force next term. I guess my greatest achievement of Cairns you would think it I don’t think so,” he said. of South Cairns” (as he is affectionately has been working and doing things with the was written in the stars that “I think that the injury was a factor known) achieve what he set out to in his first local schools and grassroots people in the Rob Pyne was destined for a for going into politics. A four years in Council? “I’m happy with a lot community; whether it’s a tree-planting day career in politics. “When I was younger I was fairly of the big projects that have happened but or listening to people’s concerns and trying The independent Division 3 physical. I used to love doing things the reason I wanted to do another four years to feed that back in and get Council to do a representative on Cairns Regional like playing rugby league and going is because of some of those smaller- and better job.” Council would have been given quite to the gym. I also used to love riding medium-size projects,” he said. “There are With his seat secured for four more years an insight into the world of local bikes and getting out and about. studying and improving my education OUT IN THE COMMUNITY: a lot of projects like that. They might seem Rob Pyne is ready to face every challenge government from his father Tom, “It [the accident] pushed me into there was also an information (above and right) Rob Pyne meets many unimportant to a lot of people, but these head-on. That’s not bad for someone who who held public office from 1961 until further education and studying. technology revolution going on. That members of the public things are important and they are the sort didn’t aspire for a career in politics, is it? 2000. Despite his father’s career, the “At university I became president of meant I could sit at a desk, research, in his role. truth of the matter is that politics was the Student Association and that gave write reports and do all that sort of never really on Pyne’s agenda. me a taste of politics. I then became stuff at a computer terminal. Pyne, who sustained quadriplegia more interested in politics – and that’s “I got a good education and access from a diving accident in December the way it’s turned out.” to technology in the workplace.” 1991, admits that he did not really Before the accident, Pyne – who After completing his studies Pyne retained his seat in April’s regional took on a number of volunteer roles, elections – worked in a number of including Regional Disability Liaison FACTFILE jobs and he explained that the nine Officer at JCU, and various positions • Name: Rob Pyne months spent in the Spinal Injuries with disability organisations. He says • Age: 45 Unit at Princess Alexandra hospital in the experience as a volunteer helped • Born: Gordonvale and raised Brisbane forced him to reevaluate his him not only later secure a full-time in Edmonton future and focus on education. position at JCU but has also helped • Family: Wife Jenny and “It [education] was very important,” him in his political career. flash cab ad here daughter Katie said Pyne, who lives in Mount “Councillors tend to either come from • Lives: Mount Sheridan Sheridan with his wife Jenny and the business community or community • Job: Division 3 representative daughter Katie. “I knew that I would sector,” he said. “Because I had come on Cairns Regional Council need to do that to be competitive from the community sector, and had • Interests away from politics: Social again in the workplace.” worked with disability organisations, media and information technology His focus on education not only I had a lot of links with not-for-profits secured him one degree, but two: a organisations. They tend to have their Bachelor of Arts in history and politics finger on the pulse and know what at James Cook University (JCU) and the problems are in their areas – so I a law degree at the Queensland think that having a community sector University of Technology. having the background was important. drive to succeed after his accident “I also worked out of JCU as a would have brought Pyne many Regional Disability Liaison Officer. The plaudits, but he said that luck also voluntary work no doubt helped me get played a part: “People tend to look a job at JCU. I also did voluntary work at themselves as achievers and while employed, and later on, because being self-made – I guess I am it’s a great link to the community.” just lucky that at the time I was Pyne worked at JCU from 2000 10 May-June 2012 May-June 2012 11.