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Council And Councillors Celebrate Ten YearsThree Latrobe City councillors were recognised and thanked for their ten years of service to the community as councillors in Latrobe City, when a ‘surprise’ motion was put to council at Monday night’s meeting. By Latrobe City - 27th March 2007 - Back to News Cr Lisa Price moved that Crs Middlemiss, White and Zimora be recognised for their ten year contribution to the community through the work they have undertaken as Latrobe councillors.
Cr Price said the three councillors were elected to the first democratically elected Latrobe (then Shire) Council, being sworn in at the first statutory meeting of the council on 21 March 1997.
"Cr Zimora and White were no strangers to local government in 1997 as both previously served as councillors with the City of Moe and City of Morwell respectively, pre-amalgamation," Cr Price explained.
"Since being first elected to the Latrobe council, all three have stood at subsequent local government elections (in March 2000, March 2003 and November 2005) and have been re-elected. Each has served as mayor, with Cr White having served two terms, and Cr Zimora currently serving a term as mayor.
"Many people gathered here will know and understand the demands of public office. In the case of Crs Middlemiss, White and Zimora, achieving ten years of giving to the community clearly demonstrates their overwhelming commitment to the job and the people they represent. Congratulations to each of you," Cr Price said.
Latrobe City’s chief executive officer, Paul Buckley, said the occasion marked a significant milestone in progressing the Latrobe Valley through the influence of local government as a sustainable and liveable community.
"The La Trobe Shire as it was then known, was created on 2 December, 1994 with the amalgamation of the former Cities of Moe, Morwell, and Traralgon, the Shire of Traralgon, and parts of the Shires of Rosedale and Narracan," Mr Buckley explained.
"Between 1994 and 1996 the newly formed shire was led by three commissioners appointed by the Victorian Government. This was part of a state-wide local government reform initiated by the state government which saw over a thousand elected municipal councillors sacked, and the number of councils decreased through amalgamation from 210 to just 78.
"In October 1996 the Minister for Planning and Local Government approved the proposed ward structure for the municipality’s return to democracy and in March 1997 an election was held. Those elected to the first council were Cr Lorraine Bartling, Cr Tony Hanning, Cr Helen Hoppner, Cr Brendan Jenkins, Cr Graeme Middlemiss, Cr Darrell White, and Cr Anthony Zimora. My congratulations to the three councillors from that first democratically elected council who are still serving the Latrobe community today," Mr Buckley said.
"A milestone such as this should not be passed without also recognising the numerous citizens who have also worked alongside council during the ten years that has just elapsed. There are hundreds of residents who have been working on behalf of their fellow citizens as members of community groups, committees and as volunteers who can rightfully put their hand up to say that they too - have just passed that ten-year milestone.
"Lastly, I would like to acknowledge a very important group of people who will also have notched up the ten-years we recognise today. They are those working for the democratically elected Latrobe council for the past ten years, and some in local government for a good many years before that - they are the council staff who have delivered council’s services.
"To councillors, community leaders and representatives, and to staff, I believe I speak on behalf of the whole Latrobe community when I say well done, and thank you for your time, energy, commitment and dedication over the past ten years towards furthering our municipality, and preparing the way for the exciting progress which I’m confident will occur in the decades to come," Mr Buckley concluded.
Crs Middlemiss, White and Zimora were each presented with a certificate and commemorative pen marking their ten years of service with Latrobe.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com

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