Find out about Leon.
Leon was home educated through primary and secondary grades by his father. He mostly lived in North Queensland although in his ninth and tenth years his father and he did extensive travelling throughout all of Eastern Australia’s coast & inland areas. His fathers education philosophy of (home education) as opposed to (home schooling) included along with standard curriculum activities such as maths, language, geography and assorted sciences, a consistent guidance towards ancient and modern history, current world politics and trade skills in construction especially design and costing of projects. Leon’s main interests from this young age were, modern farming practices and business management along with economics and politics.
By the age of sixteen, whilst still studying, Leon developed his first business venture. A state of the art poultry farm incorporating the construction of new sheds to house five thousand egg birds each, in a computer controlled environment including heating, cooling, lighting plus sun yards and a new approach to diet which included green herbage. Leon designed his own labels and his father taught him the finer points of marketing and supply through a Quality Assurance system. The venture went well enough, marketing eggs in Central Queensland coastal towns, He convinced his father that it was time to move to the Darling Downs to develop the business further on a larger property closer to the grain belt. Plans have changed and he is now selling the farming property to go into the house construction industry.
Over the years, while studying and developing his poultry farm, Leon has worked at numerous dairy farms and has an excellent understanding of the dairy industry and feedlot beef industry especially the logistics of EPA, transport and feed sourcing.
Leon joined the Young Nationals when he was seventeen and is now Zone President for South West Qld a position he has held for several years.
He has always had a fascination with taxation law and corporate law since a young age.
Leon has been financially secure in his own right for some years now, keeping to a personal policy of zero debt unless for the short term.
Leon is studying a diploma in accountancy. He has become involved in the local community and joined the local R&SL Sub Branch and Bush Fire Brigade.
He has built his own home in Leyburn, which he has recently sold, about to start the next house with his Father/ Partner. Leon took over the leading role in the family business interests when his father came to the conclusion that Leon was more aggressive and switched on due to his youth.
In June 2007 he became a committee member for the Leyburn Motor Sprints. After being involved in running this event and seeing it make a substantial loss he concluded this event should not be struggling. In October this year he was elected as President of the Leyburn Motor Sprints Committee. After spending time developing a substantial report on the current set backs and sad financial situation, Leon came up with an idea of redesigning the track and instigating a whole new philosophy for the management team to adopt. It appears these changes have had the desired effect. The current management team are looking forward to setting up and running an event with new invigoration and as big as ever with hopefully record crowds.
He has now put his hand up to become a candidate for the Southern Downs Regional Council, this decision was made before the Amalgamation issue was raised and the Warwick Shire was still divisional. Leon fought against the loss of divisions and the amalgamation until it became obvious this was flogging the proverbial dead horse. Since then Leon spent the past many months learning all that he could about the issues of all, of the new Southern Downs Regional Council precinct and meeting many people from Wallangarra to Allora. Leon has developed policy to run with especially aspects such as; accountability in council, the need for service delivery, economic development and forward planning all with minimal debt.
Conclusion: Leon Boughton is a young man who grew up in a very privileged environment to the age of nine years when a marriage failure found he and his father with virtually nothing. At the age of 24 he knows both sides of the street and understands that we live in the best and luckiest country in the world. Leon understands hard work and fiscal responsibility are the way to get ahead being once again secure in his own right and wanting to share his youthful experience and ideals with others. Leon is proud to declare himself a dedicated Christian who does believe in a fair go for all.