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Known for his reputation as a fighter on council, George Christensen has a background that working and business people can relate to.

A Mackay local, born and bred, George was certainly not born with any silver spoon in his mouth. His mother was an immigrant to Australia and both of his parents were disability pensioners for most of his childhood life.

George was raised as a Catholic but tight finances meant he never went to a private school. Instead he attended Andergrove State School, Walkerston State School and Mackay State High School.

Through childhood, George’s family lived humbly, in a small house in Andergrove before locating to live in a rural area near his grandparents’ cane farm. The Christensen family had been involved with the sugar industry for more than three generations, ever since they emigrated from Denmark to the Mackay region in 1901.

But the family farm was sold when George was leaving school, so he arranged a bank loan and funded his own way through university where he graduated with a degree in journalism.

George’s family background and work history are unusual for someone from the conservative side of politics. His Irish-descended grandfather was once a dockworker in Glasgow who marched with the unions. His great uncle, Stan Dalton ran for the Labor Party in the seat of Dawson in 1955.

George himself has been a member of two unions – the Australian Metal Workers Unions while he worked inside a printing factory and the Australian Journalists’ Association while he worked as a journalist for the now defunct Mackay community newspaper, The Pioneer News.

George started and successfully ran a publishing business producing two community newspapers in Mackay, these being the Walkerston & Valley Advertiser and the Northern Beaches Advertiser.

In 2004, George was elected to Mackay City Council and quickly developed a reputation for speaking out and fighting for his constituents. His strong streak of independence saw him re-elected to council in 2008 against a well-funded team comprising local business people and Labor Party identities. Against the odds, George secured one of the top spots on Mackay Regional Council.

As a civic leader, George has been involved in a wide range of community organizations and is currently a board director of the Mackay Regional Housing Company, and the Vice-President of the Mackay Regional Council for Social Development.

He was the foundation chairperson of the Walkerston Community Kindergarten Association Inc and is a former chairperson of community transport provider HACC Transport Mackay Inc.

George’s independence belies a deep thinker with strong principles, who once met with Archbishop George Pell to consider a path as a priest.

George will fight for the jobs, families and future of Dawson.

 

 

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