Meet Rob

Hi, I'm Rob van Manen, your LNP candidate for Macalister.

I have lived in Logan all my life, firstly in Waterford where my family lived when I was born, and later moving to Bethania where I lived out my teen years. Growing up I was always involved in sport in Logan, playing soccer for Logan City and Beenleigh soccer clubs, and Cricket for Alberton Cricket Club, where I am a life member.

My wife, Tina, and I bought our first home in Loganlea in the early 90’s and were married in the old Lutheran Church at Bethania. We later had the opportunity to buy land and build our family home at Cornubia, in the Macalister electorate, and have lived there for almost 27 years now.

Our two sons have both grown up attending school and playing sport in Logan. I was always involved in our boys’ sports clubs, usually coaching their teams, whether that be at Slacks Creek Soccer Club, Alberton Cricket Club or Beenleigh Logan District Cricket Association where I coached representative cricket for several years.

I was part of the team that brought Loganholme, Alberton and Beenleigh Cricket Clubs together at Dauth Park for Have-A-Go cricket on Friday nights, where we had almost 100 children playing cricket every Friday night. We have a fantastic sporting community in Macalister, and I would love to see these clubs and other community clubs and groups grow as an integral part of our community.

My working background is in land surveying, firstly working for a private company in Brisbane, and later running my own surveying business which included working as a contract surveyor for Logan City Council. For the past 12 years I have worked for C.R. Kennedy & Company providing surveying solutions to the surveying industry and working my way up from Technical Consultant to Key Account Manager for QLD meeting the technical requirements for many large surveying firms throughout QLD.

Having supported our youngest son battle with his mental health, I have a passion for seeing the mental health system revamped.

I also have a passion for active transport and making places more friendly for walking and riding, particularly for kids to be able to walk and ride to school.

Why am I running for parliament? I want to make a difference, a difference for the people of Macalister and difference to the people of Queensland. As I meet people in the electorate, I am constantly hearing about crime, the cost of living, the housing crisis, lack of transport and poor roads.

I believe I have the skills, knowledge and desire to make a difference and, along with the Crisafulli LNP team, I will deliver the right priorities for Macalister and Queensland.