I have known Richard Graham for over fourteen years, and I support his candidacy as an Independent for QPRC.  Richard and I were both independent Councillors on the Palerang Council term ending in 2012.  Richard then subsequently was elected as an Independent for a second term, prior to the amalgamation into QPRC.

As a community, we benefit from the presence of independent councillors on Council.  Their approach is for community good, not constrained by party politics.

He is a private person, you won’t see him actively mixing much in the community.  Richard has been successful in global businesses and has extensive financial and management experience, evidence of his skills and astute business mind.

As the owner of the Carrington Inn, Café Woodworks, and Flock restaurant he managed through crises such as COVID.  It takes a keen business head to survive while many hospitality businesses across Australia closed down.  This was a real challenge in a small town like Bungendore, and these businesses are still serving the community.  Successful businesses are a benefit to the town.

QPRC and ratepayers would benefit from his ability to understand financial statements, balance the cost/benefit of impending decisions, and ask the hard questions.  For a Council struggling to make ends meet – Council and the community would benefit from his thorough attention to expenditure.

Richard is concerned about the environment we live in.  He is active in the campaign against the Veolia waste incinerator proposed for Tarago.  As a major landholder in the Bungendore area, he has introduced a successful organic composting facility, and his farms produce certified organic produce.  He is one of the landowners involved in the Mulloon Rehydration Initiative.

A good team is made up of a range of people with different skills and strengths, and having Richard’s input as a QPRC Councillor is a real bonus.

I first met Richard in 2005 shortly after the initial Australian Story episode about my Natural Sequence Farming work. Since then we have had many opportunities to exchange counsel and advice with one another to help further the acceptance of sustainable landscape processes.

In propagating my knowledge and vision of sustainable landscape processes, I have worked with many people, with many agendas over the years. What I value in Richard is that he is a reliable and solid citizen. I believe he has the heart of a real naturalist without all the generally ineffective politically motivated rhetoric that accompanies politicians trying to claim the green moral high-ground.

While Richard’s work in the development of the Landtasia wetlands approaches landscape restoration differently than NSF, the outcome is very admirable. It is an example of his willingness to do more than talk about landscape values and put his own commitment and resources into making it happen. And, like me, he hopes that it will provide a source of learning by example for people for years to come. The same can be seen of his earlier restoration of Mulloon Creek at Kings Highway.

Lastly, and probably important to him being a councillor, he can take advice as well as he gives it. He understands human frailties that can get in the way of beneficial goals, and can help chart a course to remediate them. I think that kind of natural skill and intuition is valuable to have an all levels of government

I have known Richard Graham for over 20 years. We were involved at first in a research project on his Bungendore farm where we were demonstrating how quality composted product could be returned to farms to benefit both the community, by reducing landfill and the farm owner, by increasing soil quality. The structure of our relationship meant that all parties contributed equally on a financial basis to support the program.

This model has since been used successfully in many parts of the world to demonstrate this fundamental city to soil imperative.

I have found Richard at all times to be honest and fair in all of our dealings. and on several occasions, he went well beyond his initial commitment and found the resources to continue our work.

He is very expansive in his understanding of his role as a community member and his personal responsibilities as a local councillor. He takes a very personal interest in the future needs of his own community. His networks in all sectors would be a considerable asset to a role as councillor and to the broader community.

I would have no hesitation in recommending Richard for any position calling for judgement, integrity and personal dedication where he found himself suitably qualified.

Richard Graham is a man I am proud to support as a councillor for the Shire. He brings important skills to the governance of the Shire which are embedded in his long and successful experience as both Chairman and Chief Executive of a large Australian based international company.

These skills may be summarized as follows:

• Financial management and responsibility,
• Engagement with the stakeholders (ratepayers, management, and government counterparts),
• Attention for Service Delivery and Efficiency,
• Organisational structure and meeting protocols,
• Ability to relate, from common experience to the challenges faced by the General Manager and senior staff.

Richard is also committed to the rebuilding of the farming base of the Shire and pioneering new strategies and new enterprises to cope with impending climate change.

He also has a strong interest in connecting the community with the environment which we are stewarding for our children and grandchildren.