A lifelong resident of New Mapoon community, Councillor Marlene Bond is a beacon of cultural preservation and sustainability. A child of the bush she “loves the outdoors” and spent her younger years out gathering bush tucker and seafood every chance she could get.

“We would go and get our meals from out there in the bush and beach – the only food we took with us was our scones and damper”.

A fulltime working mother of four, Cr Bond has a long history of community service in the public sector as well as education and employment industries in the Northern Peninsula Area to Thursday Island, Weipa, Cairns and Mossman.

Unity in the community is her motto. Councillor Bond says her passion is to help people succeed and likes to see her community helping each other to build for future success.

As Councillor for Division 4, her vision is to cultivate and nourish a strong community toward a sustainable future that includes more resources, infrastructure and productivity in New Mapoon – including a hall, church and more housing.

Born of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, Cr Bond is a Traditional Owner of the Taepadthiggi Country (Batavia Downs) – and is passionate about fishing, camping and cooking.