It will be a sad day for Mount Isa and the wider region when Glen Graham hangs up his hat in January.
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Mr Graham, 67, has been chief executive of MITEZ (Mount Isa Townsville Enterprise Zone) for the last 12 years and before that was instrumental setting up Outback at Isa and Hard Times while working for Mount Isa City Council.
Mr Graham and his wife will retire to their property at Maleny where they will be closer to children and grandchildren and when he does leave in the new year, he will have been in the city for half a century.
"I came to Mount Isa and started working in January 1971," Mr Graham said.
"I had 24 years at Mount Isa Mines, 14 years and now 12 years with MITEZ, that's 50 years all up and between my wife and I we have put 110 years living in Mount Isa."
At a recent dinner following the MITEZ annual general meeting, former Mount Isa Mayor Ron McCullough praised Mr Graham for his role in defining and delivering the priorities of the economic development organisation.
Mr Graham said Mr McCullough set up MITEZ in 1994 because he had a belief the strength was in the corridor of councils working together.
"I worked for Ron for 14 years delivering Outback at Isa and Hard Times, the Riversleigh Centre and Buchanan Park," he said.
"That's what he got me to do, that was my job at Mount Isa Mines,"
Mr Graham helped found the initial Riversleigh Centre at the back of the Civic Centre in 1988 and the John Middlin Mining Display also at the Civic Centre which was later absorbed into Outback At Isa.
He said his proudest achievement at MITEZ was getting the seven shires from Mount Isa to Townsville working together.
"MITEZ has played a part in delivering projects to advance their own interests," he said.
At the recent MITEZ AGM in Townsville attended by 50 members and guests representing local government, industry and potential investors, David Glasson was returned as for his 14th successive year as MITEZ President and in the industry position, South 32's Lucy Ball replaces MMG Dugald River's Sam Rodda who is relocating to Western Australia.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
