Conference Keynote Speakers

President ICPA Qld Inc 

Wendy has lived with her husband Andrew, and their four daughters at “Merchison Park”, a beef cattle property in the Teelba area near Glenmorgan for the past 27 years.  Her children were educated at the local stand-alone primary school, Teelba State School for all their primary school years before heading to St Hilda’s School, Southport for their secondary schooling.  With her girls now residing not only in Queensland, but also interstate, the importance of access to education continues.   

Wendy became a member of the Westmar Inglestone Branch not long after the birth of her first daughter Annabelle, in 2000.  Her primary motivation was to catch up with other young mums living in the area; Wendy also had an interest in the organization as a school friend had lived and breathed ICPA, including having her father serve a period as State President.  Wendy has held the position of Secretary for the branch and has also been on the convening committees for the 2012 conference in Goondiwindi, and the 2013 conference in Toowoomba.  Wendy went on to co-convene the 2013 Federal Conference in Brisbane and then convene the 2021 50th Anniversary Federal Conference in Longreach. 

A deep-seated passion and belief that all children, regardless of how they learn, deserve an equitable education, saw Wendy join State Council in 2015 at the Cloncurry conference.  She led the Specific Needs Portfolio for many years before also leading Curriculum and then Boarding Schools and Hostels, whilst also sitting on other portfolios.  The development of the “Orange Book”, by ICPA Qld in conjunction with Queensland Health, was a major achievement of which ICPA Qld and Wendy were proud.  With her daughter Kate studying Primary Education, the relevance of ICPA continues to motivate each day. 

Wendy was elected Vice-President in 2018 and held the position until 2023 when she was elected President.  Wendy has a number of goals she would like to achieve in this role along with continuing the work of previous Presidents.  Raising the profile of ICPA Qld and ensuring there is not only a strong connection with all stakeholders, but also with branch members, is of prime importance. Wendy also wants to ensure the work of the organisation is relevant and secure in the years ahead, including for all ages and stage-of-life and education.  With her third daughter, Peggy, having a keen interest in pursuing a trade through an apprenticeship, Wendy knows that post-formal schooling is as important as early childhood, primary years, secondary years and tertiary access and opportunities.  The next generation of members will be the ones who see the organisation flourish for the next 54 years.  Wendy strongly encourages members to bring their issues forward to help ensure that every child everywhere has equitable access to education regardless of where their families live. 

Patron, ICPA Qld  

Mrs Patricia Mitchell (OAM) is Patron and Life Member of ICPA Qld Inc. She was instrumental in forming the Augathella ICPA Branch in 1973, was inaugural Secretary of Charleville School of the Air P&C ICPA Branch when it formed in 1976. She joined Cloncurry Branch in 1979 and was made a Life Member in 1986.  

In 1977, Patricia was elected to Queensland Council ICPA and was Queensland President from 1982 till 1986. From 1982 –1985 she was a Federal ICPA councillor and Federal President from 1985- 1988.  

As President of Queensland ICPA Patricia was a member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Distance Education in Queensland which recommended the formation of a School of Distance Education from the existing four Correspondence Schools and five Schools of the Air. She was then on several committees that implemented the recommendations of the Advisory Committee and planned new Schools of Distance Education.  

During this time, Patricia was also Commissioner on the Commonwealth Schools Commission and member of the Catholic Education Commission Committee for the Education of Country Children, member of the Home Schooling State Review Committee and numerous other State and Federal committees.  

As well as her ongoing commitment to education in rural and regional Australia, Patricia has been very involved with the Arts. She is a former President of Regional Arts Australia as well as being a Life Member and former President of Queensland Arts Council. She helped establish Arts House in Canberra and Chaired the Regional Arts Fund Panel in Queensland.  

Because of her experience in these fields, Patricia was appointed to the Council of the Australian War Memorial from 1997 – 2004. Patricia was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) on Australia Day 1996 for service to rural education and the arts.  

In 2019 Patricia, who has been Patron of Queensland ICPA since 2002, and had been awarded Life Membership of Queensland ICPA in 1996, was awarded ICPA Federal Life Membership in recognition of her continued ongoing support of ICPA.   

Federal President, ICPA Australia 

Louise Martin lives with her husband and twin daughters on a sheep and cattle property 30km from Tambo. Her daughters, born in December 2005, began their education through Charleville School of Distance Education and later attended Tambo State School and Stuartholme School in Brisbane, completing Year 12 in 2023. 

Born and raised in the Augathella district, Louise completed her primary education via correspondence through Charleville School of the Air. Her Year 7 class was the pilot for the current Distance Ed program. She then boarded at Stuartholme for secondary school and attended Longreach Pastoral College. Louise worked as a jillaroo and spent five years as James Packer’s polo groom, an experience that allowed her to travel extensively. 

In 1995, she moved to Tambo to work at Lansdowne as a bookkeeper/cattle manager and eventually married the neighbour. During this time, she completed a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and Agribusiness externally, over seven years. 

Louise has been active in the Tambo community, serving on committees including the Stock Show, Polocrosse Club, Arts Council, and the local RADF committee. She joined the Tambo ICPA branch in 2007, became involved in State Council in 2013, and served as Queensland President from 2020 to June 2023. 

Elected Federal President of ICPA in July 2023, Louise is embracing the challenges of federal advocacy. She values being part of a passionate team working to ensure rural and remote children have access to equitable education.