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Tim Sayre
Born in Gladstone, Tim Sayer’s connection to the land runs deep. His earliest memories are of the family property at Benaraby, where his grandfather and father managed the original Awoonga Dam, instilling in him an early appreciation for the vital role of water in regional life.
Growing up across the Bowen Basin coalfields, Tim developed a lifelong fondness for small, tight knit communities, the kind that rely on volunteers, chook raffles, and neighbours helping neighbours.
After studying teaching in Rockhampton, Tim taught in Moranbah, Blackwater, Springsure, and later Longreach, where his work as a Learning Advisor took him across nearly a quarter of Queensland. He still recalls flying over the outback after drought breaking rain, an unforgettable moment shared with children who had never seen real rainfall before.
Tim and his wife eventually settled in Bundaberg in 2000, where he led the IT team at Main Roads before launching his own business and stepping into community leadership. His passion for helping others was cemented during the 2013 Bundaberg floods, when he witnessed the power of local people stepping up long after the cameras had gone.
He has since held leadership roles supporting small businesses and chambers of commerce across Wide Bay Burnett, helping regional communities navigate challenges such as the COVID lockdowns. His practical understanding of local industries deepened during his time at Northside Produce, where he worked alongside farmers and gained firsthand insight into the realities of regional agriculture.
Today, as Program Coordinator for the Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program, Tim draws on his experience in education, business, and community leadership to strengthen the region and prepare for future dry times by building on the Burnett and Mary Regional Drought Resilience Plans.
Outside of work, Tim continues to serve as president of both the Bundaberg Chamber of Commerce and the local YMCA. A proud grandfather and family man, he believes the real strength of regional Queensland lies in its people, their resilience, generosity, and unshakable sense of community.
