Thank you for your service Mick and we wish you all the best
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LETTER writer Pauline Dodt makes a good point in The Gympie Times Letters to the Editor today where she laments the absence of any sort of official “thank you” to local political leaders who are defeated in elections and are silently consigned to the annals of history.
If Mick Curran had chosen to retire there would have been a send-off, with speeches and presents. But when you lose an election it is a different matter.
Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien had this to say yesterday:
“Public life is never easy, and putting your hand up and having a go and the pressure that goes with that should be acknowledged. I pay tribute to Mick, and the outgoing councillors Mark McDonald, Mal Gear, Daryl Dodt and Bob Leitch for their service.
“It’s been good working with Mick Curran and all of the Gympie councillors over their last term and I look forward to working with the new Mayor Glen Hartwig and the re-elected and new councillors.”
CLICK HERE: The 5 things that toppled the Curran council
Mr Curran served as mayor for five years and oversaw in that short time some ambitious projects: the Aquatic Centre, the Mary River to Rail Trail, the Youth Precinct, the Kilkivan Equestrian Centre and resurrection of the Valley Rattler. Projects that have, on the whole, left our region a better place.
His reign was dogged by controversy over transparency and spending, staff morale, and a bitter rift within the chambers that ultimately motivated Glen Hartwig to run for mayor, and win.
HARTWIG: Bob told me he was sacked
The new Gympie Regional Council was officially declared on Thursday night, paving the way for its first meeting to take place next week, ringing in the start of the Hartwig era.
There can be no doubt that taking on an important civic role like mayor is not easy - and quite often, thankless.
You are subject to constant scrutiny and judgement - it comes with the gig in a healthy democracy.
But we thank you Mick, for the long days and no doubt sleepless nights.
You gave it your best and left the region with some excellent new additions.
We wish you all the best in whatever new adventures await.
