Festival director and lawyer to run for mayor

Wayne Parcell in Nambour last week said hinterland people were not being heard by Council. 

by Janine Hill

A HINTERLAND dynamo has become the second person to put up their hand for the Sunshine Coast’s top job.

Wayne Parcell, a Montville resident of almost 20 years, has publicly declared his intention to run for mayor of the Sunshine Coast at the March 2024 local government election.

Mr Parcell’s announcement follows that of television personality and university lecturer Rosanna Natoli, wife of division four councillor Joe Natoli.

Mr Parcell, a lawyer by profession, is director of The Rangebow Festival, a celebration of diversity, inclusion, sustainability and reconciliation spread across the hinterland towns of Maleny, Montville, Flaxton and Mapleton.

He is also the president of the Montville Village Association and when president of the Montville Tennis Club, has driven the rejuvenation of the Montville tennis courts.

Running for public office has been on Mr Parcell’s mind since he was a teenager but he decided to finally do it after a bit of a push from others following Mark Jamieson’s announcement that he would not seek a third term as mayor.

“The time is right. The mood I’m picking up from people is that they are looking for a change. They are looking for a different way of the council doing business,” he said.

“I think the council has done a good job but I think people are looking for a more open and transparent type of operation from council so they can be more confident in the decisions that are being made and have more faith in what’s happening and have a higher level of satisfaction in what the council does,” he said.

Mr Parcell, who has adopted the slogan “change that matters to you,” said hinterland people did not feel they were being heard by the council while coastal residents could be heard but not understand why certain decisions were made.

He said the Sunshine Coast’s population was diverse and he would like to see the council engaging with a wide variety of people.

“There’s many different communities out there that have different needs. They need to be included. They need to be understood.” 

Mr Parcell, 64, a part-time strategic consultant for a law firm, believes he has the right skill set for the job of mayor. 

After growing up in a domestic violence household on Brisbane’s southside, he went on to study law at university and worked in the public service for 15 years, earning a medal in the Queen’s birthday honours for his outstanding work.

He has more than 30 years’ experience in immigration law in private practice and with a global firm and 25 years on the boards of charities, including for homeless LGBTIQ+ youth.

His husband, Brett, and two adult children from his first marriage, who compete with two Burmese cats for his affections, are supportive of his run for mayor.

Any questions or meeting invitations for Mr Parcell can be emailed to Parcell.for.Mayor@gmail.com. Div 8 Cr Jason O’Pray was also believed to be launching his campaign for mayor at time of print yesterday.