The Weekly Advertiser - Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Page 1

Vol. No. Vol. 2018No. 40 27

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Wednesday, January 13, 2018 2016 Wednesday, April 18,

OFFICIALLY OPEN: The new Kalkee Road Kindergarten came to life on Monday with the arrival of a bunch of children eager to explore their surroundings. The kindergarten, in Horsham’s new Kalkee Road Children’s and Community Hub, will run three and four-year-old programs. Connor Frawley took a liking to a water pump in the new outdoor space. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Ararat left guessing A

BY DEAN LAWSON

rarat Rural City Council’s turbulent past 12 months took another sharp turn last night with ratepayers left unsure whether they would need to find a new mayor and-or councillor.

In a sensational turn of events, an Ararat gallery left a council meeting none the wiser whether they would have a mayor or council representative living in faraway north Queensland. The large gallery, including representatives from the media, had expected mayor Glenda McLean to announce her plans regarding her position, amid revelations that she had shifted to Queensland to take on a new full-time job at North West Hospital

and Health Service at Mt Isa. But after the council carried a no-confidence motion and another motion for her to resign as both mayor and councillor, the council then went into a confidential committee meeting. Many gallery members leaving the chamber remained bemused as to whether Cr McLean would take any notice of the council position or whether she would stay on as mayor, councillor or both. Her position was still unknown when The Weekly Advertiser went to press. There had been media reports earlier in the day that Cr McLean might continue as a councillor despite living in Queensland and continue to represent the people of Ararat. Cr McLean’s lack of any sort of direction for public consumption last

night added to several days of speculation about her whereabouts and her position as mayor moving forward. What the public did hear was considerable criticism from Crs Bill Braithwaite, Peter Beales and Jo Armstrong of her ability to remain a council representative and mayor. If Cr McLean confirmed in confidential committee to remain a councillor but stand down as mayor, the council will avoid a countback or by-election and need only a special meeting to elect a new mayor. But Cr McLean, unless she consistently travels from and to her new home as part of a ‘fly-in, fly-out’ schedule, could only be a long-distance representative. She will need to rely heavily on information technology such as teleconferencing.

Her position as an individual councillor is secure for more than two years unless she commits any serious misconduct charges or fails ratepayer or residency guidelines required for the role. She has residential property in the Ararat municipality. Cr McLean said at last night’s meeting that she had pursued an opportunity to work interstate after enduring ‘disappointing’ council circumstances. “I told new chief executive officer Allan Bawden on his arrival that I’d been pretty wounded by the commission of inquiry; and been pretty wounded by my attempts to do the right thing, in around quite a lot of mistakes I might say. So I had been looking at other job opportunities. “… I’m on the wrong side of 60 and I’m closer to some other milestones…

so it’s been since last year an absolute joy to be invited as a senior consultant to be involved in medical work. “To that end I’ve taken that on with gusto – and with the negativity, victimisation and bullying that’s occurred, unfortunately from people who should know better outside Ararat – this has given me a lot of joy. “I’ve been supported by many members of the council and when an opportunity presented itself I grabbed it. I was uncertain about my health and whether I would be able to sustain a lot of work interstate… and it’s like going for a job interview, you don’t tell all your friends and you don’t tell your enemies about your job interview until you have the job.” Continued page 3

IN THIS ISSUE • Horsham Cup date change • Anzac Day services • Football-netball coverage Phone: 03 5382 1351 Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au

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