RETIRING councillors Lorraine Learmonth, Jodie Basile and Brian Gibson gave short farewell speeches at the final meeting of the 2016-20 Gannawarra Shire Council last Wednesday.
While the councillors cited major achievements and satisfaction during their time in local government, councillors Basile and Gibson expressed bitterness at criticism they had experienced.
Cr Learmonth, the mayor, said she believed the councillors were leaving the shire in a better state than they found it, citing the decision to become an NDIS provider and the Cohuna and Koondrook waterfront projects — with the help of $2 million of Federal Government drought funding — as major improvements.
Cr Learmonth hit back at criticism that the community had not had a say on project planning.
“We have had many well publicised strategies and plans out for public comment and a high percentage of these receive no comments,” she said.
Cr Basile cited a long list of achievements, including the upgrade of the Kerang CBD, the establishment of the state’s biggest solar farm, the staging of arts and community events and adapting to “the new COVID-normal”.
She said she was pleased to have had the experience of serving on the council but made clear it had been bruising.
“We have (enjoyed) the highs of seeing our teams win international awards for outstanding projects created within Gannawarra and we’ve also seen the lows of some people making everyone’s lives hell,” she said.
Cr Gibson pointed to $11 million worth of projects completed in Patchell Ward during his eight years in office and the council’s successes in many areas.
He said he was leaving for his own reasons and “not (due to) the repeated hate that was thrown towards myself and my fellow councillors over the last three or four years”.
Cr Gibson took a parting shot at critics, suggesting anyone who couldn’t “understand the three Ps … process, procedures and policies” wasn’t cut out to be on the council.
“I believe that you fail your community when you cannot reason or debate issues without claiming that you are the victim of bullying,” he said in the council chambers on Wednesday, referring also to the need to respect “democracy” and “majority rule”.
The departing councillors thanked staff, colleagues and chief executive Tom O’Reilly, with Cr Basile singling out Mr O’Reilly for particular praise as a humble, honest and hard working CEO who had “copped more crap than most care to deal with”.
Mr O’Reilly thanked both former mayors and announced that Cr Learmonth had been presented with a Municipal Association of Victoria Mayor Emeritus Award, which recognises councillors who have served at least three terms as mayor.
