The Mayor
Councillor Melva E Hobson PSM
PSM, M.Ed.St. B.A. Dip.Ed (Monash University)
Melva was educated in Melbourne and completed her Arts and Education studies at Monash University. Her professional career as a secondary geography teacher and Head of Department in Geography, Social Justice and Social Science, was in Victoria and Queensland. She was also president of the Geography Teachers’ Association of Queensland (GTAQ) in 1988-89.
In 1991 Melva was appointed the first Queensland Landcare Education Officer being seconded to the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) to work with teachers and landcare/catchment groups across the state, developing and delivering curriculum initiatives and professional development across primary, secondary, tertiary and vocational education. It was for this work she was awarded the Public Service Medal in the 1995 Australia Day Honours.
In 1997, Melva moved permanently into the Public Service as Principal Extension Officer with the Department of Natural Resources where she continued a focus on community engagement and natural resource management education. She was chair of Waterwatch Queensland, which was part of a community water quality monitoring network across Australia (Waterwatch Australia). Melva also chaired the Consortium of Integrated Resource Management (CIRM) Social and Community Dimensions of Natural Resource Management working group - an alliance of university and government social science researchers. Melva left the Public Service in 2006 after spending three years as General Manager Information and Communication Services in Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.
Melva and husband John then re-established Wellington Point House as a successful B&B, winning a Chamber of Commerce Business Achievement Award for the 'best small business' in 2007.
Always active in the community, previously as P&C President and Scout Group lay chair, she was selected as a member of the Redland Shire community plan reference group in 1997.
Melva’s passion for the Redlands, its community, environment and lifestyle saw her stand and win election as Mayor of Redland City in the 2008 local government elections.
Recently she was installed as an honorary member of the Cleveland Rotary Club and was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow by the Redland Sunrise Rotary Club.
She continues her love for Church music through conducting the choir for the last 12 years and playing the pipe-organ when asked.
Contact details:
(W) 3829 8623
(M) 0433 214 320
Registers of Interests
Councillors Statement of Interests - Mayor Cr Melva Hobson [PDF 1.3MB]