Sunshine Coast Hinterland Times

Richard Bruinsma is the media adviser to Federal Member for Fisher, Peter Slipper. Richard has a background in broadcast television, having been a reporter for WIN TV in his home town of Toowoomba . Before joining Peter Slipper, he was a news reporter with Channel 7 on the Sunshine Coast.

Why did you come to the hinterland?

Whenever I did a story on the hinterland for Seven News it always seemed a  green, warm and relaxing place.  There was a feeling of comfort in those rolling green hills and it’s only 20 to 30 km from the Coast.
We’ve been in Palmwoods for six years now and, for someone who came from Toowoomba, I was used to a totally different, dry landscape. The people in Palmwoods are relaxed and friendly too. When it came time to buy a house, my wife Kiti and I were unable to find what we wanted at a price we could afford in the Maroochydore area, close to work. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise because it forced us to look “west of the highway”, where we settled in Palmwoods.
Without doubt, every day as I make the 20 minute drive from the office here in Maroochydore, there’s a feeling of “almost there.” As I glide down the Woombye-Palmwoods Road and through the trees toward the railway bridge you feel like you’re going bush and there’s a chance to unwind.  You come through that tunnel of trees and it’s a nice feeling; very enjoyable.

What did you change to come here?

It was a new challenge to move from Channel 7 after 7 years. Over the years, I noticed there were stories cropping up that I had done the year before and the year before that. So, it was becoming a bit repetitive. It was a fantastic learning experience at Seven and it was time to move on.  I had always been fascinated by politics and I had no problem moving from the media over to the political sphere. I had met Peter (Slipper) though my work at Seven and I had always liked him so it was an obvious and easy step to take. It was a new opportunity and it was a bonus that I didn’t have to leave the Coast.
One of my aims was to be involved in an election campaign. Well, I’ve done that now. Last year’s general election was pretty big for us … almost a full year of hard mentally demanding work. 

What’s keeping you here?

I do like the media and meeting people through the media. I think if I went back to journalism now I would be a better journalist than I was before. I’ve seen behind the scenes; seen what goes on, on the other side, and the deeper stories that people have to tell rather than sometimes just scratching the surface that journalists most often have to do. I don’t think the media will ever be outside my job description wherever I go or whatever I do.
I feel very settled on the Coast. I love Palmwoods. We live on about 1000 sq m.  If I could I would like to have a little property at Hunchy;  just  a couple of acres. That would be my dream location.
The main thing is that the hinterland is good for my kids and for my wife Kiti. We live in a cul de sac with other kids in it. We have four children, a 14 year old girl, an eleven year old boy, another boy nearly eight, and a 15 months old baby. So where we are is relaxed, stable and safe.
Palmwoods is now our home. It is central to most parts of the Coast. The children have good friends who live in the street and it’s not uncommon to have up to 10 kids playing together. They love Palmwoods. And I don’t have any intention to give up the peace and quiet here for anywhere else on the Coast – except maybe that property at Hunchy.  It’s a great place to call home.

Tree Changers … about people who change their lives to settle on the Range and why they choose to stay.