The Truth Regarding my Appointment at the Mudgeeraba show

Posted On March 7, 2016 By Ted Shepherd In Gold Coast Division 9 /  

Honesty and integrity are important values to me so I wanted to address some things pertaining to the Mudgeeraba show.

It is with a heavy heart that I have heard hurtful rumours about me and the circumstances surrounding my appointment and then standing down as the Society’s General Manager. There was even a rumour I was sacked.  I want to set the records straight and stop any untruths being reported.

Firstly, I was appointed by unanimous decision of the Mudgeeraba Show committee to the post of General Manager.  It was decided that I was the only candidate with the appropriate experience that had applied for this position and that by going through the interview process, would only give false hope to other applicants.  Both of these motions were voted unanimously by the Mudgeeraba show committee. Later, some people questioned the process that the Mudgeeraba show committee went through to appoint me and this matter was referred to the Department of Fair Trading.  The Department of Fair Trading reviewed the matter and found no further action was required. I have attached a copy of this confirmation letter from the Department of Fair Trading below this post.   This was never referred to the CMC.

Secondly, I resigned from my position as a paid employee of the Society on 18 January following months of infighting and indecision by the current Management Committee. It was becoming unworkable and it was revealed that the bickering was Politically motivated. For the good of the Show and to help it re-build in time for the 2016 Show I felt it best for me to resign to allow a new Secretary Manager to be appointed. 

Thankfully this has been done and the administration is back on track to organise the Show. I made sure that everything was in order before I vacated the Office. Our Membership lists are accurate and up-to-date and the Show Snippet newsletters are ready to be distributed. Also, the prospect of a financially successful Show are great. I had secured a major sponsor for $20,000 and had been negotiating with several others. The bookings at the grounds were well above expectations with over $52,000 committed from wedding bookings or major events. That is more income than any other previous year. All of the Policy and Guideline documents had been revised and distributed – literally, the Show Society is in great shape.

I have offered to work on a voluntary basis both in the Office and if needed, as the Ring Announcer over the Show Weekend. I’m still a Life Member of the Show and one of its Patrons.

I love the Mudgeeraba Show and will do everything I can to protect it and make it a success.

Below I have included the documents that confirm the facts.

Minutes of Annual Meeting 1

Minutes of annual Meeting 2

Snippets from the Annual General Meeting showing the process of appointment of the General Manager dated 30 July 2015

k_Gold_Coast_Sun_Article_-_27_January_pdf__1_page_

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the letter from the Department of Fair Trading showing there was nothing to investigate.

This is the letter from the Department of Fair Trading showing there was nothing to investigate.

Show snippets - why left

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Are You Sick of the Traffic Congestion at Clover Hill State School?

Posted On March 2, 2016 By Ted Shepherd In Clover Hill State School, Gold Coast Division 9 /  

Are you sick of the traffic congestion at Clover Hill State School?

I have heard through door knocking, that one of your big concerns is the traffic congestion at Clover Hill State School.

* In 2011 following the same complaints as now, I worked with Council’s Traffic Engineers to come up with a plan given my past experience with Traffic Management.
* Council Engineers endorsed the plan and it was ready to be built.
* Clover Hill State School was consulted and Plans were displayed for comment by Parents and Staff.
* State Government officers at the request of our State Member Ros Bates, rejected the proposal choosing to leave the arrangements as they presently exist.
* The main issue or point of conflict is that traffic exiting the carpark can’t see approaching traffic along Clover Hill Drive due to the crest in the road and it becomes a slow and uncertain process to break into the traffic stream on Clover Hill Drive. Additionally, it is extremely difficult for buses to manoeuvre through the break in the centre median which again slows all other traffic movement.
* There is a conflict with merging traffic exiting the carpark on the southern side of the school with traffic exiting the short-term parking and pick up zone in front of the school. In short, it is a mess. It is illogical to confine all through traffic, buses and pick-ups at this one tiny exit point.
* Simply put, my proposal reverses the traffic flow. It requires traffic to enter the pick-up zone through the southern driveway and exit through the north.
* This alteration allows greater holding capacity on Clover Hill Drive; it reduces the amount of on-road queing; it allows carpark traffic and set-down traffic to merge easily; and, it allows all traffic to exit safely through the northern driveway onto Clover Hill Drive.
* This proposal can be implemented at minimal cost as it only requires a change to a few traffic islands and re-linemarking of the carpark layout.

We need to solve this problem, not only for the parents at the school, but also for the community of Clover Hill Estate who struggle to get in and out of their estate at the beginning and end of school.

I will get this sorted.

Vote 1 Ted Shepherd for Division 9

‪#‎vote1tedshepherd‬ ‪#‎tedshepherd‬ ‪#‎cloverhillstateschool‬ ‪#‎division9‬‪#‎rebuilddivision9‬ ‪#‎gcelections‬ ‪#‎mudgeeraba‬ ‪#‎goldcoast‬ ‪#‎trafficcongestion‬‪#‎cloverhill‬

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Ted Shepherd – Why Family is Important

Posted On March 2, 2016 By Ted Shepherd In Ted Shepherd /  

Sue and I have been blessed to live on the Gold Coast most of our lives and 40 of those years have been within the Mudgeeraba District. During that time we have raised two fine boys, Kim and Martin. They both attended schools at Gilston, Mudgeeraba and then Nerang High. Shortly after leaving school they both entered the armed forces by joining the Army. Kim as an Army Helicopter maintenance Engineer and Martin as an Army Helicopter pilot. Both boys have served their country proudly in Timor, Afghanistan and other conflicts. Martin has now moved on to Emergency Services as a Rescue Helicopter Pilot and Kim continues now with a senior rank in the Army.

Sue and I are pleased to announce that Kim will marry a local girl Georgia early this year and boy, was that good timing. First the election on 19 March and then we’ll move on to help finalise the wedding. Hopefully there won’t be too many re-counts before the election result is announced. We are very happy to welcome Georgia to our family as she is a wonderful and charming person and we know this comes from her caring parents who also live locally within the Division. 2016 is going to be a fantastic year.

Ted Shepherd with his family.

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We Need to Finish the New Mudgeeraba Pool

Posted On February 16, 2016 By Ted Shepherd In Gold Coast Division 9 /  

We need to finish the work on the new Mudgeeraba Pool. As you can see in this video, the preloading work has already been done and settled. I spent 10 years of my life as a Councillor to the pool approved and operational. I had organised for the money to be allocated to this project but in 2012, the project was stopped. It is an absolute travesty.

Here are some of the facts:

* Funded was allocated in 4 year programme.
* Plans prepared for a lavish centre that would cost $18M – I delayed this project for a redesign to lessen cost.
* Preload cost $800,000 and has been completed.
* Project allows for 10 lane 25m Olympic pool and children’s play pool and Hydrotherapy Pool.
* Hydrotherapy Pool used by elderly and sportspeople.
* Only one other Public Hydrotherapy Pool on the Gold Coast.
* The current pool was built in 1968 and has been decommissioned but is surviving on band-aides and silicone

I want to re-initiate plans and funding for the Mudgeeraba Swimming pool.

Vote 1 Ted Shepherd and get the Mudgeeraba Pool built.

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