Angie Bell MP, “our” member for Moncrieff, the federal electorate that spans from the Spit in the north, west to Nerang and south to Miami, has become a popular regular speaker at our club. “I am a product of Rotary” Angie stated, opening her talk. Why? In her teenage years, she was selected to participate in the Rotary Youth Exchange program, and sent from her home in Gawler (Adelaide) off to Denmark for 12 months. In her considered opinion, this had a profound impact on her future life and career. Elected to parliament in May 2019, today she is the Shadow Minister for Youth, Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education, among a number of other positions.Naturally, as a member of the Liberal Party, Angie touched on her party's policies, details of which can be downloaded from the party’s website. However, in view of Rotary’s strict policy of remaining politically neutral (with which I’m in full agreement), no details should be mentioned in this report. On the local scene, Angie formed the ‘Moncrief Community Cabinet’ and the ‘Gold Coast Youth Cabinet’. Both are designed for a simple and straight purpose: to hear the views of representatives, “real” representatives, of her community. Coming up again on the last weekend this month, for several years now she has organised ‘Impact Gold Coast’, a Youth Summit, which will again together 200 young people, representing various demographics from across the Gold Coast.
For our club, Angie was instrumental in helping us to obtain several grants; a major one was to enable the purchase of a new electric forklift for our project shed. Thank you, Angie, for the work you do for our community and the nation at large.
(Photo: Angie Bell MP with Past President Doug Lipp)