Here’s to Quilpie. Here’s to Lizette.

What matters most to you in life? For Lizette Waldron, it was a slower pace, better work-life balance and more quality time with her husband. At Quilpie Shire Council, she found all this and more. From a casual role to a full-time Customer Service Officer, and now as she moves into our newly created role of Training and Housing Officer, Lizette’s story shows that at Quilpie, you can build a rewarding professional career with a council that’s proudly punching above its weight.

No place like home

The moment Lizette first set foot in Quilpie for a visit, she felt a sense of coming home. It was a Saturday morning, and she was immediately greeted with welcoming hellos, friendly curiosity … and four job offers.

“Everyone was so welcoming and friendly. As soon as they found out we were thinking about moving here, the jobs started flowing my way,” Lizette laughs.

Quilpie, in the heart of Channel Country, was a far cry from where Lizette grew up in Tasmania. But she was no stranger to Outback Queensland. She and her husband had been living in Roma for seven years, but were ready for a lifestyle change.

“We wanted to slow down a bit. My husband was doing 16-hour days and was never home. So, for us, moving to Quilpie meant he would be home more often and we could spend a lot more time together.”

The move not only meant Lizette’s husband could continue his career, but it also paved the way for Lizette’s own professional future with Quilpie Shire Council.

Drawing on her experience in small business and local government in Tasmania, Lizette started a casual role at our Visitor Information Centre. Within months, she transitioned to permanent part-time and helped the team win silver at the 2024 Australian Tourism Awards - a success that helped open the door to her to move into the full-time position as a Customer Service Officer. From there, Lizette is now moving into the newly created role of Training and Housing Officer. 

“I’m a people person, so I love the contact I have with Council staff and community members. I’ve been living in Quilpie for two years, so most people know me now, and they know I work at Council. I like being that friendly face and voice for people.”

Most importantly, Lizette has found the balance and down-to-earth community she’d been seeking: “Moving to Quilpie has definitely given us the quality of life we were looking for. Everywhere you go, people say hello, they ask how you’re going. It’s just a great place, great community.”

Community and connection

As a Customer Service Officer, Lizette has been a friendly first point of contact for our community. Her role is full of variety - from customer phone calls and over-the-counter enquiries to record management and supporting our departments.

Although her days are full, Lizette and her team make sure they inject Council’s core value of “fun and humour” into every day.

“Absolutely, everyone does have a sense of fun and humour here. My team has what we call ‘Friday fun’, where we gather snacks, enjoy a little chit chat every now and then, and have a bit of fun and laughter. I think the culture is just more personalised here than at a larger council. People are always checking in to see if you’re OK.”

This supportive work environment naturally extends to Council’s dedication to serving the community in times of need. For Lizette, this commitment became powerfully evident during the record-breaking floods that devastated much of Western Queensland in March 2025, when the Council played a vital role in supporting evacuated residents who had lost their homes and livelihoods.

“There was real pride at the Council in being able to help these people be safe,” Lizette reflects. “Most of them had lost everything. It really was amazing to watch everyone step up and be part of that team effort. I was proud to be part of that.”

Beyond this crisis response, Quilpie's vibrant community spirit shines in year-round events and activities. Lizette enjoys attending community gatherings throughout the year, including Outback Opera - a unique performance by the Queensland Opera beneath the majestic Outback night sky.

A former hockey player who represented Australia at masters level, Lizette has also embraced our thriving golfing community, swapping her hockey stick for a golf club on the unique sand greens of the Quilpie Golf Course.

“My husband and I also like to get away in our van on weekends and explore. Just last weekend, we went for a drive out to Windorah to have a look at the wildflowers blooming. But there’s always something happening in Quilpie - there is always an event on, so it is never, ever a boring weekend!”

Growing together

Since moving to Quilpie in 2023, Lizette has grown from someone seeking a change to a community champion. As Quilpie Shire Council works towards growing from 700 to 1,000 residents, she is energised by being part of that ambitious vision. “We’re definitely going in the right direction,” Lizette says. “I’m excited to be part of the team and helping to achieve that.”

Her own journey - from casual visitor information role to full-time Customer Service Officer and now moving into the Training and Housing Officer role - demonstrates the career pathways possible at Council.

“If you're looking for a challenge, Council has so many good projects to be part of. There are lots of different areas and job opportunities, so if you come out here and find you like what you're doing, great. But there are always other avenues to explore as well.”