I am Ron Owen and I have called Gympie my home for 28 years, I married my Wife in Gympie, my Daughter was born here, my Parents are buried in Gympie, and I will die here.

I love Gympie. I moved my business to Gympie 28 years ago, I have been successful in an industry that has suffered more than most from Government negative interference. The community of Gympie has been very loyal to my family and I wish to repay this loyalty to the community. I hope the people in our shire will allow me the honour and opportunity to represent them in Council and allowing me to repay with interest my debt to them all.
I was asked, just recently by a friend of thirty years standing, why I want to be a councillor. He was amazed that after four years that I would still want to do it. I thought about it for a few seconds and said that the main reason was that, I enjoy helping people solve problems.

I have been depicted at times by the media, as being radical and I can admit that at times I have been guilty of provoking thought with impassioned words. As one of the greatest pains to human nature is the pain of a new idea. This sometimes, makes it very difficult to quickly arouse people from their contentment. Some may accuse me of unorthodoxy and I admit I cannot stand duplicity and arrogance. I can work within any system and the discipline of having to work with incessant un-necessary “Red Tape” proves that I have the patience, yet I have never lacked the courage to oppose it.
I cannot give you lists of political promises, the only thing I can promise is what I know is within myself:-
i) That there will be no better watchman at the gates of our shire,
ii) That there is not a truth existing that I fear, or would wish unknown to the whole world,
iii) Be assured that I will on all issues inform by every means possible so that you can be involved in the outcomes.
Government is not the solution to our problems; government is the problem. From time immemorial we have been told to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government by the people. If that was right, if none of us are capable of governing ourselves, how can they say, they have the capacity to govern everyone else? All of us together, in and out of government, must bear the responsibility.
If you have a problem with our local government, as I have had very many problems with all levels of government, (I define, that if there is an issue between the state and the individual it is in the ‘public interest’ that the rights of the individual should always be defended against the state). I would consider it an honour and a duty to help you but if you needed assistance from a specialist I would give you the contact details. I do not win issues every time but it is never from the lack of trying. I believe that it is persistence that makes the difference.
President of the USA 1926 to 29 C Coleridge said, “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not. There is nothing more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not. Unrewarded genius is proverbial. Education will not. The world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and commitment alone are omnipotent. The term “Press On” has solved and will always solve the problems of the human race.”

Our business employs, six people, we have trained ‘Fitter and Turner”apprentices. We retail, wholesale, mail order, export and manufacture firearms, accessories, parts and books. We also spend much of our time in legal research and investigation and have a large legal library at our disposal.
My occupation has made it necessary to travel extensively, in interesting places and I have had the opportunity to study many different lifestyles such as China, South Africa, Dubia, London, Switzerland, India, Vietnam, Manchester, Yugoslavia, Philippines, Canary Island, Guam, I travelled half way round the world on a boat.

 When I left school, I volunteered and enlisted in the Grenadier Guards for three years, full time, nights as well as days. I have qualifications in mechanical engineering and was employed by the Victorian Social Welfare Department for five years. All in all with more than 30 years, up until now, in the Firearm business all I can say that it has been very exciting and I would not have missed it for one second.