After almost nine years the Rix family are finishing up in Cloncurry leaving a large hole in the town's civic, police and social scene.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Cloncurry Shire Councillor and police officer in charge at Cloncurry, Snr Sgt Brad Rix, his wife and PCYC manager Sgt Heidi Rix and their children Vin, 11 and Cleo, 10 are moving to the Gold Coast to start a new phase of their lives.
The couple who both clocked up 25 years with Queensland Police in 2017 will continue with the service and at the same Surfers Paradise office, Brad in a new corporate management role and Heidi in the domestic and family violence unit.
They finished up work in Cloncurry on Friday September 20 and then pack for their big trip south.
They are ready for the next challenge but will take great memories of their time here with them.
"We've been here eight and three quarter years," Brad said.
"People laugh when I tell them that because they think I've been counting but that's exactly how long it's been."
The Rixes and their young children came to Cloncurry in January 2011 with "a three year plan".
But like so many others have found in this region, life got in the way of that plan.
"We loved it and had no reason to leave," Brad said.
Brad said the policing side of his life in Cloncurry was a big challenge especially in the early days.
"I found the relationship between the police and the community when I arrived here wasn't as good as it is now," he said.
"We had to do a bit of work there, particularly in community engagement and getting to know people and getting the trust of people and it helped there was some longevity in the team with the same philosophy."
Heidi too got heavily involved in the community, initially as a general duties officer before taking on the PCYC sergeant role over three years ago.
And when asked why he decided to run for councillor at the last election, Brad joked, "I was conned!"
"No, that was a conversation with the mayor at the time Andrew Daniels," he said. "He was a good friend and he saw that I might have some good potential in that role."
So did the voters and Brad topped the Cloncurry councillor poll in 2016.
Brad admitted juggling the huge time demands of both roles has been difficult.
"I felt at times I was only giving 75% to both," he said.
"But I'm proud of what we've achieved."
READ ALSO: Mount Isa Caltex will now stay open
While you are here subscribe to our weekly email to your inbox at 6am every Friday