Melissa Westcott - Councillor - Isaac Division 3

27/03/2026

An absolute highlight every year is watching the year 12 formal arrivals for Moranbah State High School and for the first time I got to experience it as a mum. Safe to say there might have been some glassy eyes.

Congrats Moranbah State High School on a beautiful afternoon.

24/03/2026

Such a great day yesterday at the Isaac Youth Summit.

Shout out to Brooke Langley Photography who managed to time her photo perfectly as the Clermont students had me in full laugh.

The youth yesterday identified problems in Isaac (and we are not talking the little things- they had fuel, food supply, transport, bullying, cyber safety on their lists), and then worked through the issues on how they could provide solutions.

Think of it as the Isaac Shark Tank…. and they nailed it. So many ideas and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next. I felt like I went back in time to my old teacher days and loved all the laughter, connection and excitement that those much younger than me had.

22/03/2026

For all the creatives in town you might be interested in this workshop this Wednesday at the Girl Guide Hut.

TICKETS HERE: https://events.humanitix.com/linking-communities-moranbah?fbclid=IwY2xjawQsYCtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeod4ZAtBwx0FhuMGexyOxuV31ojtTYSvuWzIr8Ti03zm6yAKEutWi4zzWtFs_aem_wMU3Jr8NignYqcOIacb8Kg

Create a piece of cyanotype art on fabric to be shared with another community. Learning cyanotype skills and how to embroyder imbellishments.

14/03/2026

We laughed until it hurt tonight! Thanks to Mel Buttle for bringing a big night of comedy to the region as part of Inspiring Women in Isaac. I am sure I will do a terrible job of trying to re-tell some of the jokes this week, so if I see you, just tell me to stop!

And to the panel speakers — Dr Sharon Stephen, Kelly Vea Vea - Mayor Isaac Region, Amanda Raymond and Jixie, thank you for being the most entertaining panel I have ever got to watch.

14/03/2026

The Isaac Region Renewable Energy Supply Chain Forum is coming, and if you are a local business owner — you need to be in the room!

The clean energy sector is growing fast, and the Isaac region is right at the heart of it. This forum will connect local businesses directly with some of the biggest renewable energy developers and contractors operating in our region, giving you a front-row seat to the scale of investment heading our way and more importantly how your business can get a piece of it.

Whether you are looking to bid for work, build new partnerships, or simply understand what opportunities are on the horizon, this is the event for you.

I always encourage our local business community to think ahead, and this is exactly the kind of room where forward-thinking pays off.

The Renewable Energy Supply Chain Forum is coming to the Isaac Region.
This half-day forum will connect regional businesses with renewable energy developers and contractors, providing insights into:
✔️ Upcoming renewable energy projects
✔️ Procurement pathways and processes
✔️ How local businesses can prepare for future opportunities
📅 18 March 2026
⏰ 8am – 1pm
📍 Isaac Events Centre, Mills Ave, Moranbah
Hosted by Isaac Business Chamber in partnership with Isaac Regional Council, Resource Industry Network and Queensland Government.
Register Here: https://www.resourceindustrynetwork.org.au/.../Renewable...

14/03/2026

Look, if we are honest, I am not a runner — but I can support the chief BBQ chef with the sausage and onion cooking and keep the flies away like a pro for the runners when they made it back this morning! Thanks Binda Park parkrun for a great morning.

Shout out to the IRC Engaged Communities team for putting on a great breaky for everyone. 🙌

07/03/2026

Another wonderful event to celebrate International Women’s Day in Dysart. Fallon safe to say the quietness around the table during your words was your story hitting home to so many of us. Thank you for sharing.

Isaac Business Chamber The Just Saying Project

I have a soft spot for the Isaac region. In the past 10 years I have spoken four times in the region.
It is one of the most unique and wonderful places in Queensland.

And it’s the people and in particular the women who live there that make it so wonderful.
Today I spoke at the first IWD luncheon for the Isaac Business Chamber in Dysart.
The theme was ‘IN HER WORDS’ and was created by the formidable Leann Priestley and sponsored by the Local Buying Foundation.

I spoke about how, when we honour lived experience , we honour the invisible architecture women have always built in our communities.

When women realise that their stories aren’t small because their postcode is but how lived experience is not ‘just a story’ - it’s data with a heartbeat.

And yet so often women preface their wisdom with
‘This is just my experience…’
But we don’t need to soften or apologise.

We must own our experiences because it shifts rooms. Women sit up straighter. Women think they are not alone. And women begin to imagine themselves differently.

I hope that the women in the room realised the power in her words.

Big love Fallon ❤️

06/03/2026

Today I also had the pleasure of attending the WIMARQ Bowen Basin lunch right here in Moranbah — and I left feeling genuinely inspired.

Women in Mining and Resources Queensland (WIMARQ) exists to celebrate the achievements and contributions of the exceptional women working across Queensland's resources sector, and to shine a light on why diverse and inclusive workplaces matter — not just as a nice idea, but as a real commitment to ensuring everyone feels welcome and valued.

The fact that we had a satellite event here in Moranbah, with the wonderful Jessica Ritchie as our special guest speaker, before streaming live to Brisbane for the main event and awards, says everything about the strength of our region and the incredible women who call it home.

A huge congratulations to our very own Kristy Purdon, who was named Co-Chair of WIMARQ. Kristy has been a longstanding and valued member of the WIMARQ committee, and this recognition is so well deserved. She brings a genuine commitment to supporting women across Queensland's mining and resources sector, and her leadership of the WIMARQ Bowen Basin Chapter has helped create real connections and meaningful opportunities for women across our region. Moranbah is so proud of you, Kristy!

The resources sector has always been the backbone of communities like ours — and the women working within it, in all kinds of roles, deserve to be seen, celebrated, and supported. Today did exactly that.

Congratulations to all of the women recognised at today's awards, and a huge thank you to WIMARQ Bowen Basin for making sure regional Queensland always has a seat at the table.

06/03/2026

I had the pleasure of joining Alaina Earl - Division 5 Isaac Regional Council and Verniece Russell at the official celebration marking the completion of the Moranbah Hospital project.

Sean Birgan (CEO of Mackay Hospital and Health Service) joked today that this project has been like a John Farnham concert. First we had the hospital opening, then the helipad, and now the official completion celebration. We keep thinking it's the finale and then there's one more encore! But honestly? We are happy to celebrate every moment with them.

Because this community has waited, advocated, and championed this project for a long time. Seeing it fully complete is the kind of milestone that genuinely matters, it's not just a building, it's a statement that Moranbah and the people who live here deserve world-class healthcare close to home.

To everyone who played a role in bringing this project to completion. The builders, the planners, the health workers who provide the care we need in our community (the true heros), the advocates - thank you.

Moranbah, you should be incredibly proud. 💛

15/02/2026

What a way to end the weekend at the Isaac Regional Golf Comp between Moranbah and Clermont.

Congrats to all involved in making this happen and of course Congrats to Moranbah on the win.

Clermont Golf Club Moranbah Golf Club

12/01/2026

05/12/2025

One of my favourite nights of the year in Moranbab has to be Christmas Carols in Town Square.
Thanks to all that make this happen and bring so much Christmas spirit to us all!