READING The Guardian’s page 1 story (November 18) about payment to local councillors took my mind back to the pre-Swan Hill Rural City Council times.
In that article the incoming mayor announced he would reduce his entitlement for the year by $25,000.
He also questioned the need for a deputy mayor, who would be entitled to higher fee than that of councillor. A deputy mayor was subsequently elected at half the allowance of the set full mayoral allowance.
As an editorial staffer at The Guardian I covered meetings of both Swan Hill City Council and Swan Hill Shire Council for more than 20 years from 1970.
At statutory meetings of both councils in each of those years, item 4 on the meeting agenda was payment to councillors. Every year both councils unanimously declined payment.
I can still hear the booking voice of the late Cr Frank Thompson in the shire chamber. “When councillors take money for this job performance will falter,” he said as heads nodded in agreement.
Across Beverage Street, upstairs in the town hall, city councillor the late Alan Clark put it this way: “We don’t want payment; this is our contribution to our community.”
City councillors in those times wore three hats; they were automatically members of Swan Hill Sewerage Authority and commissioners of Swan Hill Water Trust.
On the second Tuesday of each month, meetings of the sewerage authority and water trust preceded the council meeting.
The council met again on the fourth Tuesday with a broader agenda.
Shire councillors assembled for a 10am start to their meeting, which could be expected to continue until 10pm or, at times, later. They had a lunch break from 12.30 to 1.30pm, which was paid for by council, and they were provided with an evening meal after the meeting.
The change from honorary councillor to professional happened in the 1990s with the dissolution of the city and shire councils and their replacement, Swan Hill Rural City Council, in a rearrangement of local government ordained by the state government of the day.
I had retired by that time, so I was not at the newcomers’ first statutory meeting, but apparently when payment to councillors was reached on the agenda, the reaction was, “how much?”
And so it has continued ever since, increasing in line with the cost of living.
Yes, both city and shire councillors were reimbursed the value of receipted costs incurred when they were required to leave their municipality on council business, but to my understanding, that was their only payment.
I am in the third decade of my retirement years now, so I admit my finger is no longer as firmly on the community pulse.
Councillors of the time which I have recalled here were active in their communities … prominent in state and national farmer organisations, progress associations, hall committees, service clubs, driving tourism, easily accessible. One city councillor was said to be a committee member of 19 local organisations and at the same time was also Victoria’s Chief Girl Guide. How is that for involvement?
Of the current council, I could recognise two if I passed them in the street, but I will admit some of that may be because of my retirement years.
We have recently had two of the present group aspiring to a higher level of government.
In the period I have reviewed, Alan Wood won a state seat and was also rewarded with ministerial portfolios, Barry Steggall followed him to Spring Street, while more recently John Forrest made the longer leap to Canberra. All ex-city councillors.
Swan Hill Shire councillors who were elected to state government in earlier times were Henry Pye (president 1931-32) and Percy Byrnes (president 1939-40), who was later knighted in recognition of service to local and state government.
The councils of the past were certainly proactive.
When the state government decided to replace long distance rain passenger services with road coaches, and Swan Hill was listed among the casualties, the mayor of the day Joan Wilkins, caught the next train to Melbourne, went straight to Premier Jeff Kennett’s office and told him, “you are not taking our train” – and those who knew Joan knew that when she spoke, you weren’t left wondering what she meant!
With a lifetime in nursing behind her, she detailed to the Premier the disadvantage and discomfort cramped road coach travel over long distances would have on the aged, disabled, pregnant and others.
Swan Hill kept its train service and got additional services, both rain and road, as well. Some other long-haul services in the state were also saved, but not Mildura, which is now fed by road from Swan Hill.
Joan would have had her train fare and incidental expenses included paid by the council.
Now that is value for money I think!
Lawrie French
Swan Hill
