General News
29 February, 2024
Army career a good foundation for council position
FROM the mountains of Afghanistan to the mountains of the Tablelands, former regular Army Major Cameron McCollum will be fighting in a different battle next month as he vies to become the Division 4 representative for Tablelands Regional Council.
With a 20-year career in the regular army, Mr McCollum believes his career in the defence forces and his business acumen puts him in good stead to represent his community.
“There is so much to love about the Tablelands and having travelled, worked and lived in many parts of the world, it is the absolute standout for me when it came to choosing a place to settle and raise my family,” the father of three said.
“Service has been a massive part of my life and I initially put myself forward as a candidate because I felt that it was my responsibility to standup and serve the community.
“Since then, I’ve met so many dedicated members of our community who give so much that it’s safe to say I’m now inspired to serve the community.
Mr Mc Collum said that if he was successful, he has no doubt he could balance the demands of running his tech company with the responsibilities that come with being a councillor.
“It’s a balancing act, and I’m grateful for the support of my wife and family. Effective time management and prioritisation are crucial. I’ve been put in these sorts of positions before. I’m not going say it’s easy, but with experience you become very efficient.
“I guess what they say is true: ‘If you need something done, ask a busy person’.”
Mr McCollum said he has the character required to represent his community and would stick to his beliefs no matter what.
“I know how important it is to the people of our community to have a councillor who is accessible, takes their concerns seriously and strongly advocates for the community in council,” he said.
“If my track record in places like Afghanistan is anything to go by, I can be absolutely stalwart when it comes to standing for what is right, rather than bending to whatever is easy.”
