Bev Walters – LNP candidate for Capalaba

Bev Walters is tackling one of the tougher jobs in Redlands politics, contesting the safe seat of Capalaba for the LNP at the Queensland elections due on 31 October 2020.

Capalaba has been held by Labor since the seat was created in 1992 except for 34 months during the Newman Government’s tenure when the LNP’s Steve Davis was the local MP. Jim Elder and then Michael Choi held the seat for Labor between 1992 and 2012.

Bev and her husband Frank moved nearly ten years ago to the semi-rural area which used to be known as Capalaba West. For six years they lived in a small cabin while saving enough to build their house.

Bev and Frank are keen gardeners growing flowers as well as fruit and vegetables. The expectation of tucking into some huge ripe red passionfruit was dashed recently when the little corellas which visit many Redlands suburbs dropped in to Bev and Frank’s place and helped themselves.

As a mother of two school age children Bev was very busy and a bit stressed during the recent COVID-19 crisis assisting with home schooling. The recent reopening of schools has given her time to resume campaigning including a lengthy interview with Redlands2030.

Bev Walters is a relative newcomer to politics. She joined the LNP about 18 months ago and in October 2019 put her hand up for pre-selection as the LNP’s candidate for Capalaba. In late January she was selected to run against Labor’s Don Brown, the current member and Chief Government Whip.

Bev says her primary reason for entering politics is to help make Queensland a better and safer place to live and bring up children. Crime and lawlessness concern her greatly. She says Queensland needs wholesale changes in legislation, policing and administration of justice to keep communities safer.

Queensland’s huge debt is another vexing issue which Bev says needs to be tackled more effectively to ensure better lives for Queensland’s future generations.

As a small business owner and operator Bev knows what it’s like to be under financial pressure.

When establishing her travel agency business she took out a second mortgage to fund the costs of setting up her travel agency business.

“I used to lie awake at night worrying about how I would pay back the bank” she said.

But by focusing on her clients’ needs she found that the agency prospered and her debt problem disappeared.

Six months out from the State election Bev had planned to stop working as a travel agent but the COVID-19 pandemic has kept her busy cancelling bookings and securing refunds for her clients.

Unwinding some of the more complex itineraries involving travel to exotic locations has required her to work hard on problem solving, she said.

As LNP candidate for Capalaba, Bev is surveying residents to find out what they are concerned about.

She’s particularly keen to promote community engagement about the long term future of Leslie Harrison Dam. Issues to be addressed include water security, recreational use and flood mitigation (especially for the local Greyhound track) as well as making sure that there’s a business case for any additional expenditure.

A key issue raised by many local residents responding to her survey is the nature and extent of residential development.  “Losing the character that makes Redlands unique is a point raised by a great many people responding to my survey” she said.

A greater focus on sustainable economic development with creation of long term local jobs is a goal that Bev Walters would like to focus on if elected to the job of local MP in October.

“We should be making the best possible use of Redlands’ natural attractions to promote tourism and economic development’ she said.

Bev says she gets on well with people across the political spectrum, including many local councillors.

She would like to see greater focus in politics and government on working together to help the community.

Bev’s dog named Looney is a Maremma obtained as a rescue dog a year ago, initially homed with Bev and Frank as a foster dog, but now she is part of the family.

The Maremma breed originates from Italy where these dogs were used to protect flocks of sheep from marauding wolves. In Australia Maremmas have been used to protect a colony of penguins a true story which formed the basis of the movie Oddball.

Unlike similar looking dog breeds such as Labradors and Golden retrievers, Maremmas are independently minded and very focused on doing their job rather than socialising.

You can find out more about Bev Walters on her Facebook page and website.

Redlands2030 – 31 May 2020