John’s connection to Swanbank goes back to the 1880s when his great grandparents settled in the area to farm beef and dairy cows. The land was “open to selection” for 1 pound per acre. He still lives on this family farm, along with his extended family, and is one of the closest landowners to the Swanbank Clean Energy Hub.

John also has a very long connection to the power station. In 1969 he became an Auxiliary Plant Attendant at the coal-fired power station, Swanbank A, which was then run by the SEAQ. He remained on the operating staff of A and B Stations and worked on the early commissioning of the gas-fired E station until 2003, progressing over that time to Unit Operator, Power Plant Controller and Senior Power Plant Controller. Later, he was invited to conduct tours of the E station as well as site inductions.

John has been a member of several local CRGs including Ripley Residents CRG, and a Swanbank/Thiess (now Remondis) combined CRG. Last year he was a member of the codesign panel which developed the masterplan for the Swanbank site. As a member of the CRG, he wants to see as many recommendations from the masterplan implemented as possible. John is also looking forward to seeing the Swanbank Battery come online in 2025.

Mark has lived on a property close to the western side of the power station since the 1980s. The mines were still operating then and were accessible by horse or bike. A family of horse lovers, the Urselmanns could ride through bush to Spring Mountain for an overnight camp with their young children.

Mark originally had cattle on the property and bred quarter horses. Now his property is home to many bee hives – his son farms highly sought after organic honey there.

Over the years, the Urselmanns have used Swanbank Lake for family celebrations. They also regularly release turtles into the lake – their property features a billabong and the turtles often become stranded trying to migrate to the lake, so the Urselmanns give them a helping hand.

Mark has previously been a member of a local CRG and in 2023, was a member of the codesign panel which developed the site masterplan. He believes the Clean Energy Hub has the potential to be a bucket list place of interest for people far and wide if the many options highlighted by the community can be realised.

Between his job as a project engineer in the energy sector, his volunteer work with the Queensland African Communities Council and being a father to 5 children aged between 2 and 9, it’s fair to say Thiew Atem has his hands full! Somehow Thiew also finds time to participate in the Ripley Walking Group!

Originally from South Sudan, Thiew settled in Toowoomba in 2004. After graduating from USQ with a degree in electrical and electronic engineering, he began a career in the energy sector.

Last year, Thiew was a member of the codesign panel that developed the community infrastructure masterplan for the Swanbank site. With his extensive industry and local knowledge, Thiew is excited to be part of the CRG and contribute to the development of the Clean Energy Hub. He hopes that the project will bring economic, social, and environmental benefits to the Ipswich community and beyond.

Vicki Carmont moved to Ipswich from New Zealand in 2008 and has lived in South Ripley since 2015. She is keen to see the Swanbank Clean Energy Hub developed as a place that benefits the local community as well as providing clean energy.

Vicki is a Disability Support Worker and enjoys spending time with her adult children and grandchild in her spare time. She has visited Swanbank Lake and is looking forward to taking her grandchild on the steam train some time soon.

While her job as an organisational psychologist keeps her busy, Genevieve is also very connected to the Swanbank and Ripley area through volunteer work.

In 2019 she joined the Ripley Community Garden, a thriving family-friendly space where locals come together to grow fruit, vegetables and herbs. Genevieve has since taken on a leading role with the garden, and now also volunteers with its auspice organisation, Ripley Valley Community Inc. Both organisations are all about improving community wellbeing and creating connections between residents – something Genevieve is passionate about.

A life-long Ipswich resident, Genevieve is keen to see how the Swanbank Clean Energy Hub can be developed to provide a space for the community.

Anastasia has been attached to Ipswich her whole life. She grew up in Raceview and now works as a teacher at Ripley Valley State Secondary College. She is a passionate educator with an interest in STEM subjects, coordinating the Ignite Excellence Academy at the College.

In 2023, Anastasia supported four students from the College to be part of the codesign panel for the Swanbank Clean Energy Hub. Through this process, Anastasia enjoyed learning about the Hub and the opportunities it could provide for research, innovation and education. She is looking forward to being part of the CRG so she can continue the connection with Ripley Valley State Secondary College students, sharing the students’ ideas, questions and concerns with the CRG and watching positive change in the community happen in real-time.

Away from work, Anastasia enjoys live music, gardening and spending time with her family. She can often be found wandering through gardening and horticulture shows, and is an active volunteer involved in events such as the World Science Festival Brisbane and the Woodford Folk Festival across the year.

Originally from North Queensland and growing up in the central highlands coal fields, Theo moved to Ipswich in 2021 and lives in Bundamba with his wife. He operates a design and fabrication business specialising in 4x4 accessories in Ipswich.

As a small business owner, Theo is interested in the opportunities the Swanbank Clean Energy Hub presents and wants to see the land put to good use. He has some understanding of complex industrial sites like Swanbank, having previously worked on the London Olympics site at Stafford.

Raymond moved to Ipswich from Papua New Guinea in 2015 and has a diverse set of skills and knowledge to share with the CRG.

An Australian citizen born in PNG, Raymond was the Acting Chairman of the PNG Government’s Planning Board for 4 years before relocating to Ipswich. In this role, he was responsible for reviewing building and road applications from across PNG.

Raymond is a passionate sports fan and was a sports administrator in PNG for many years in the fields of weightlifting, billiards and snooker. He is a mad keen rugby league fan who follows Manly and the Blues, much to the dismay of his wife, who is a dedicated Broncos/Maroons supporter!

Paul’s connection to Ipswich and the Swanbank area goes back many years. He has very happy memories of visiting his grandparents’ farm at Ripley and swimming in nearby Bundamba Creek.

Paul’s father worked at the Box Flat Mine and Paul remembers standing on a hill overlooking the mine, after the disaster in 1972. After finishing school, Paul trained as a motor mechanic and then moved to a Central Queensland mining town, where he secured work in a coal mine.

After 20 years away, Paul returned with his wife and son to Ipswich in 2009 and has lived in Ripley since then. He is looking forward to learning more about the opportunities presented by the development of the Swanbank Clean Energy Hub.

Dom has a keen interest in the renewable energy transition, having completed a Bachelor of Sustainable Energy Systems Engineering at Griffith University before going on to complete a PhD in the field. With several years of experience in the renewable energy, inverter design and battery storage industry, Dom is dedicated to facilitating the transition to sustainable energy.

He now works at the University of Southern Queensland, developing coursework for the university’s electrical and energy engineering degrees. Dom is passionate about ensuring today’s engineering students are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to support the renewable energy transition.

Originally from Croatia, Dom came to Australia as a young child but still maintains a close connection with the Croatian community. He is a member of the Croatian Folkloric Dance Group Brisbane, where he plays music for children's dancing groups and serves as a committee member. He plays a Croation instrument called the ‘tambura’, much like a mandolin.

After being a member of the masterplan codesign panel in 2023, Dom is excited to continue his involvement in the Swanbank Clean Energy Hub by sharing his local and technical knowledge through the CRG.

Born and bred in Ipswich, Renee is deeply connected to the Ripley area, raising her 3 children in the area and contributing a lot of her time to support a range of local groups.

She is currently the President of the Ripley Valley State School P&C and Secretary of the Ripley Valley State Secondary College P&C, not to mention also being a member of Deebing Heights State School’s P&C. If that was not enough, Renee is also an executive member of Ripley Valley Community Inc. and a member of Building a Child and Youth and the Friendly Ripley Valley Collective Action Group.

In 2023, Renee was a member of the codesign panel which developed the masterplan for the Swanbank Clean Energy Hub. She is interested to see how the hub can not only return to being a place for community outings but expand its support of the community through education and employment, while embracing and showcasing the history of the Swanbank area.

Ewan Martins is a year 9 student at Ripley Valley State Secondary College. He moved to Ipswich in 2021 when his father was posted there with the Army.

Ewan already has a good understanding of the Swanbank Clean Energy Hub through his participation in CleanCo’s codesign panel in 2023, which produced a masterplan for the site.

At school Ewan’s favourite subjects are science, maths and the Ignite program, an academic excellence program that collaborates with the community on real-world projects as well as national/international competitions such as the Australian Space Design Program.

After he finishes high school, Ewan hopes to join the ADF as a mechanic and eventually work in the mines. Away from school he enjoys playing video games and is involved in local sports such as Football.

Aunty Michelle Maybanks has been connected to the Ipswich area for more than 45 years and has many family members in the area.

A Redbank Plains resident, Aunty has worked at Goodna State School for many years as a Community Engagement Officer and as an Indigenous Liaison Officer. She is passionate about sharing culture with children and ensuring all young people have access to educational opportunities.

Aunty’s own Aboriginal heritage is a combination of mobs from the South Grafton area on her mother’s side and the Kulku Yalangi mob in the Cooktown area on her father’s side.

Aunty was a member of the codesign panel which developed the masterplan for the Swanbank Clean Energy Hub in 2023. She is keen to ensure that Indigenous perspectives are represented in the plan as it is rolled out. Aunty also wants to ensure the natural environment in the power station precinct is restored so people can see what it was like before mining.

Kirsty’s art and designs can be seen in the revitalised Bell St area in central Ipswich, in murals and planter boxes and on the front of the Health Plaza.

Kirsty moved to Ipswich 18 years ago to take up a role as coordinator for the Queensland Government’s Greyhound Adoption Program. Although she is no longer in this role, Kirsty still has a connection with greyhounds through Friends of the Hound Inc., fostering rescued greyhounds to get them ready to be rehomed.

Since completing studies in interior design and architecture, Kirsty has been involved in various community placemaking projects and has worked with First Nations artists on art projects for the Ipswich CBD. Kirsty says she enjoys seeing spaces evolve and improve. She was a member of the codesign panel which developed the masterplan for the Swanbank site, so she is excited to see what comes next for the site!

Debbie was born and raised in Ipswich, and still has a strong connection to the city, although she now calls Bribie Island home. Debbie raised her family in Ipswich and also has a connection to Swanbank Power Station through her father-in-law, who worked at the power station in the 1970s.

When her children were young, Debbie began dabbling in art, inspired by the work of her neighbour, Stella Gibbs, who is known for her pen and ink drawings. Debbie is now a sought-after artist and has created artwork for many organisations in Ipswich. She designed the first logo for Ipswich City Council when it was formed in 1995.

Debbie’s mother belonged to the Ugarupul People from the Ipswich area, while her father is from the Ngugi People of Moreton Island. Debbie loves bringing her culture to life through her art.

Campbell Smith has always lived in Ipswich. As a student at Ripley Valley State Secondary College, he enjoys studying science, especially biology. When he finishes school, Campbell wants to pursue a career as an environmental scientist.

In 2023 Campbell was a member of the codesign panel which developed a masterplan for the Swanbank Clean Energy Hub. He is looking forward to continuing his connection to the site and wants to see the masterplan come to life as a member of the CRG.

Away from school, Campbell says he is a “massive nerd” who enjoys reading/watching all things Marvel. He also paints and likes playing Warhammer 40K.