‘‘Never have,’’ she opens.

‘‘Never will,’’ she closes.

Well-rehearsed lines of a polished public figure?

Don’t think so. We touched on many things – including unsolicited parts of my life – for more than two hours, so may I say publicly Sandra McGrady, OAM, is one heck of a lady.

JW: Are you political or apolitical?

SM: I am what I am, although Mount Isa always comes first in my political views and I do feel  I have strong views and I am not afraid to express them.

JW: Former state premier Peter Beattie once told Parliament “there is only person who could defeat Tony McGrady for the seat of Mount Isa and that is Sandra McGrady’’. Do you agree?

SM: Absolutely! He is really putty in my hands. 

JW: How do you handle Tony, seriously?

SM:  Seriously, we discuss most things and work closely together. 

I think I have an understanding of people and their motives better than Tony and I think it is always a good thing to be able to bounce ideas off someone that you trust.

JW:  Are there enough hours in the day for you?

SM:  It’s simply a matter of organising myself and prioritising, but I do love what I do, so I make enough time in the day to do the things that I do.

JW:  Typical day?

SM:  I’m up at 6am and have breakfast with Tony, before he leaves for the office just before 7am.

I tidy the house and then start my day of meetings and other community activities, but always finding time to potter around the garden.

JW:  Are you a Rotarian?

SM:  No, I am not a Rotarian, but I did receive the honour of being made a Paul Harris fellow and I am in awe of the work that they do in the community.

JW: Are you a sound sleeper?

SM:  Yes.

JW: And Tony?

SM:  No.

JW: Have you ever thought of divorce?

SM:  Tony wouldn’t let me. So the answer is NO.

JW: What’s your hairdressing bill?

SM:  I have my hair done every five weeks but I manage on a daily basis myself.

JW: Are you the Iron Lady as in the Thatchers?

SM:  I am stubborn, but we work as a team, we discuss most issues.

I love my home and my garden and spend a lot of time keeping them both spick and span,  I don’t think either Margaret or Denis Thatcher would have been that way inclined.

However, I do think that I am emotionally strong and have a strength of character that you need in public life.

 JW: How did the McGradys first click?

 SM:  I was a friend of Tony’s younger sister, it started there I suppose. The rest is history.

 JW: Are you English?

 SM:  Yes I was born in Liverpool in the UK.

We have two children, Susan who lives in Brisbane and Paul who lives in Townsville, who recently became engaged and will marry in July.

JW: You are the wife of a sitting mayor who has had a chequered political career. There have been controversies, too.

How do you cope with the slings and arrows?

SM:  Tony taught me to differentiate between the ‘‘public person” and the “private person” but when I am upset, I  just  think of all those kind lovely people in Mount Isa.

We have had quite a few over the years and still do.

I don’t mind people attacking the policies which Tony advocates or carries out – that’s what democracy is all about – but it is very, very hurtful having to read the personal attacks in the local media and in social media. 

Personally, it does hurt when people personally attack Tony via the media.

I think people have to remember, that even though Tony is a politician, he is also husband and a father and that does hurt.

JW:  So, how often have you felt enough is enough? 

SM:  I often ask myself that question when times get tough but having a strong support network around you is imperative.

We are lucky to have a very close-knit group of friends around us.

They are from all different backgrounds and they really do make the tough times bearable.

I often think “Well maybe if Tony and I had not been around this or that may not have happened or been achieved” that’s when I realise that what we are doing is so important.

JW:  And the future of Mount Isa?

SM:  I, like Tony, am very confident of the future of Mount Isa. Tony talks about the new uranium industry coming to the North West and the potential for a gas pipeline from the Northern Territory as well as a positive future for Glencore.

Yes, I believe that the best years are still ahead of us, providing we have strong leadership.

I am also a very big believer in shopping locally.

I don’t shop online, I spend money locally and I would encourage others, where possible, to do the same.

Being involved in so many organisations I know where we go to for sponsorship, yes it’s the local business houses not the online merchants as well as the fact that our local business houses provide the jobs. 

Yes, I feel strong about this issue.

JW: Have you truly liked the Isa?

SM:  Yes I love it, it’s given us a standard of living which we couldn’t have achieved anywhere else.

At Tony’s 70th birthday we were surrounded by family and friends and it really was a wonderful evening.

We had messages from former prime ministers Julia Gillard, Paul Keating and Bob Hawke as well as the late Wayne Goss, former Queensland premier, as well as current Premier Campbell Newman.

The Isa has been my home for many, many years; so, no, I have no plans to leave – I would have to be taken away dragging and screaming.

JW: Now, that’s loyalty.