General News
22 August, 2020
One Nation announces candidate for Cook
Another candidate has put their hand up for the seat of Cook.
Another candidate has put their hand up for the seat of Cook.
Fred Brophy boxer Brettlyn “The Beaver’’ Neal has been endorsed by Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party to take on Labor’s Cynthia Lui who has held the seat since 2017.
Ms Neal, aka “The Beaver” career has included stints working security detail for the rock star “Pink’’ and also taking part in Thai kickboxing fights.
She said that she has been living around the cape for the past 8 years, working in Weipa, Mapoon all through the NPA and up into the Torres Strait Islands.
“I’ve lived in a number of far northern Indigenous communities over the past few years working towards Aboriginal advancement,” Ms Neal said.
“In a way, I have been training for this fight for a long time, and I have sat in the background for a long time and now it is time to step up to the challenge,
“My ambition is to help people who do not have a voice.”
Neal – whose nickname stems from her early years with the Brophy boxing troupe said she is “in it to win it”.
She said her work in Indigenous communities had taught her that some people in Australia simply had no voice, and she wanted to change that.
“I suppose I only really finally made my mind up to do this about two weeks ago,” she said.
“And what pushed me over the line was the idea that I could give a voice to people who have none.
“If you are just a little person in this country you have no voice, and that happens whether you are in the youth justice system or in a domestic violence situation, or whatever your circumstances.”
Neal said she won’t be seen in the boxing ring for the next few months but is proud of her accomplishments, including winning about 200 fights, as well as her ability to pass on her skills to others as an instructor.
“For me, it is not about the violence – it’s about the discipline and the training and the health aspects, and also knowing you can protect yourself from attack.”
