Give Sharon Frank a spreadsheet and a swathe of numbers to crunch, and this accountant is in her element. Since coming to Quilpie in 2022, Sharon has kept us on track as Manager of Finance and Administration. However, when we caught up with her, in August 2025, she was pleased to share an upcoming promotion to Director of Corporate – a testament to her leadership skills and passion for Quilpie’s future. Learn about Sharon’s Quilpie Shire journey.
Joining a ‘role-model’ council
Sharon Frank is a quick study when it comes to reading council dynamics. With more than 20 years of experience in regional councils, she can walk into any council meeting and almost immediately sense how well a council is functioning. It’s the way people relate to each other, the ease with which they broach issues, and the way they work towards a solution that everyone is comfortable with.
So, when Sharon attended her first Quilpie Shire Council meeting in May 2022, she was keen to see what she’d find. We’re pleased to report that Sharon was instantly sold.
“When you’re working at the executive level alongside elected members, it becomes so important what the council is like. In that initial meeting at Quilpie Shire, I could see they made sound decisions. They considered all the materials. They were strategic and strong on advocacy. That’s what attracted me,” Sharon shares. “I thought, ‘This is a place where you’re going to feel valued and respected, where you can have discussions and courageous conversations and all work together.’”
That perception has only been reinforced in the years since. A strong believer in making decisions based on facts and needs, not ego or politics, Sharon found that Quilpie Shire Council is the perfect place for an executive to do just that.
“At the council table here, everyone listens to different points of view. Together we identify the best parts of each idea and come up with a wonderful plan. That’s good governance and that’s the way it should be, and that’s what I love about Quilpie Shire Council. It’s a role-model council in my worldview.”
A determined spirit
As the wife of a police officer, Sharon is used to moving to new towns. No matter where she lands, she gives 100% – a commitment that holds true at Quilpie Shire Council. Sharon won’t stop until every number stacks up, ensuring her work always delivers the best result.
Her determination is a lifelong trait; something she proved by studying her commerce degree while looking after her four young children and working in local government, all at the same time!
“I don’t know how I did it, looking back!” Sharon laughs. “But I just loved accounting so much.”
We’re so glad she made that call to pursue her passion because, ultimately, it meant Sharon brought her talent and standard of excellence to help Quilpie Shire prosper. And she finds real meaning in doing so.
“I just love doing Council budgets and putting together the financial statements. I get so much satisfaction out of that because, to me, it’s the cornerstone of every aspect of what gets done at Council. You know, how do we fund this or that? What’s it going to cost? Can we afford it? And our statements, well, they are our financial report card to the community.”
To Sharon, producing an effective budget is intricately connected with ensuring the long-term sustainability of Quilpie itself.
“We want to be here in 20, 30, 50 years as a community and a council. We want our economy to grow. We are all very passionate about that. It’s about the community. It’s about us being financially sustainable and making sure we can keep delivering for Quilpie.”
Where humour matters
One of our values at Quilpie Shire Council is fun and humour. But ask Sharon to share a story that demonstrates this value, and she just can’t do it.
“It’s hard to think of a specific event or moment because it’s just so ingrained in how we exist!” Sharon says. “Humour flows here; it’s part of the conversation and makes it a happier workplace. Remember, we’re probably spending more time with our work teams and our colleagues than we do with our own family during the working week. So, you don’t want to be miserable. You want to enjoy it!”
Sharon says this positive energy flows through the overall team culture, where someone will always lend you a hand whenever you need one.
“I’m a very strong advocate of the concept that we’re one council, we’re one team, we all work together. There’s no silos. So, if another department needs help and someone’s got capacity, absolutely, we can jump in and help. My own team is small; if someone’s away, you don’t have to ask – everyone just steps in to help, no questions asked.”
For Sharon, this is one way that Quilpie Shire Council fulfills its mantra of pushing for great and rising to every challenge.
“If we’re talking excellence, I think at Quilpie Shire Council, we live up to it because we have a team where every single person just does the right thing and plays their part. We produce quality outputs, but it’s not just about the outputs; it’s also about how we operate.”
