Q&A Community Profile with Grant Palethorpe of Place 360 & WCBA
Birth date and/or star sign: Scorpio.
Dream Car: My EH Holden, followed by a 1957 Chevy Nomad.
Ties to area: My parents moved from Melbourne in 1965 when they bought a pineapple farm here in Woombye. I was only a little tacker at the time.
First job you ever had & what was it like: Aside from working on the farm as a kid, my first ‘paid’ real job was with Win Motors in Nambour. I started straight from school, it was around the time Ray Grace had taken over, I was there only a few months because I received job offers from the 3 banks that I had applied for.
The last television show or movie you loved? Not the last, but it’s hard to go past Seinfeld.
One thing on your bucket list? Backpack through Central America.
Best advice you have ever received and who did you get it from? My dad, he wasn’t big on words, through his actions he instilled that with hard work, drive and determination you can achieve your goals. He taught the value of making well informed decisions too.
What has been your most memorable moment? Pretty hard to beat having 4 fantastic kids. Backpacking through South America and being at the 2008 AFL Grand Final watching my team Hawthorn win rank up there.
What’s one thing you love about Woombye (apart from the people)? The sense of place, a feeling of home, the landscape and real connection. It’s an intrinsic feeling that can’t be described by words. Coming down Blackall Street the view to the range is stunning.
What would your friends/family say is your most annoying habit? Talking too much and wandering off topic.
What is something people don’t know about you? Still own my first car, I drive my EH Premier daily, our 40 year anniversary is this October.
What one thing would you like to see happen in the local area? Maintain the village feel of our towns, create better connections to encourage walking and riding bikes. Future new road and infrastructure needs to be appropriately located so that it doesn’t destroy the very fabric of Woombye that we love.
Best local activity & why? The simple things like kicking the footy with the kids, Sorry can’t pick just one, we are fortunate to be close enough to both the range and the beaches.
What are you passionate about? Places, as a town planner I’m fortunate to be involved in some very cool projects, I’m excited by the life that occurs in the public spaces, the footpaths and parks where chance meetings with friends occur. Woombye has that buzz along Blackall Street, that’s not something a town planner can replicate. It’s something that evolves over time. People are drawn to great places, and Woombye is one such ‘Place’. Celebrating the local history of a place is a great way for our newer residents and visitors to connect with our town.
Is there a local business, community group, club or person you’d like to give a shout-out to? The Woombye Community & Business Association, I’m on the committee and am keen to grow the association for the benefit of Woombye. The WCBA is nearing 100 financial members, we support our local businesses, community groups and sporting clubs. We engage with all levels of government to advocate appropriate development decisions are made. We are keen to get more local events happening too.