Elected
Members

About

Originally from a farming and grazing family in the Wallumbilla district, Lyn Barnes first came to the Quilpie Shire in the mid-1970s as a governess.  At the start of the 1980s after working as bookkeeper on the legendary Thylungra Station, Lyn returned to Roma where she became a radio journalist and married Jack, having two sons.  In 1990 they moved as a family to settle in Quilpie.  

Here Lyn began her career as an artist, learning to paint at workshops with the Quilpie Cultural Society before setting up a studio in Robbo’s Opal Shop as an outlet.   

Always interested in regional growth, an opportunity arose for her with the then South West Regional Economic Development Association.  As an economic development officer covering the four shires of Quilpie, Bulloo, Paroo and Murweh, Lyn spent several years working on projects such as OBE Beef, The South West Film Locations Register and the opening of Hell Hole Gorge.   SWRED is now known as the South West Regional Organisation of Councils (SWROC) and has expanded to include both Maranoa and Balonne Regional Councils. Lyn has maintained her interest in regional economic development through her role as a Quilpie Shire Councillor.

At the end of the 1990s and encouraged by her work in economic development, Lyn set up her own arts business and opened her first gallery in the Old Quilpie Telephone Exchange behind the Quilpie Post Office.   The Lyn Barnes Gallery is now located in Sommerfield Road where locals and visitors are able view current works as well as those in progress.  Lyn frequently hosts tour groups and painting workshops at her gallery, making it part of Quilpie’s ever expanding tourism product. She has exhibited on an annual basis in Brisbane and more recently on the Sunshine Coast for over 25 years.

This will be Lyn’s second term as Councillor and she appreciates the opportunity to represent the Quilpie Shire community again. This term Lyn would like to see the continuation of investment in housing, the building of a new childcare facility, upgrading of shire road networks, the creation of a remote tertiary education centre and continuing advocacy work to sustain the vital resource industries of oil, gas and opal, as well as providing ongoing support of the pastoral industry, the cornerstone of Shire wealth. 

Of particular interest to Lyn is the completion of the Eromanga Natural History Museum. ENHM has already increased the visitor numbers to Quilpie Shire more than significantly, creating jobs and enhancing business. A finished ENHM will not only benefit the Quilpie Shire but will be a substantial contributor to Queensland’s overall attraction of international tourists.

Lyn is honoured to serve as an elected member of the Quilpie Shire Council and welcomes the opportunity to promote Quilpie Shire as a centre for outback excellence.