Wattle Range Council is set to lose yet another councillor as the resignation of Corcoran Ward representative Graham Slarks is anticipated.

The Millicent North Primary School principal announced at his school’s Christmas concert last week that his eight years at the helm would be drawing to a close.

Mr Slarks said he would be moving to become principal of Richmond Primary School in suburban Adelaide in the New Year.

Mr Slarks told The SE Voice it was a tough decision to leave MNPS for the three-year appointment at Richmond Primary School.

He said MNPS was in a good place at the moment.

“We have a wonderful staff and students at Millicent North and we are achieving good results,” Mr Slarks said.

“Perhaps it is the right time to leave when things are going so well.

“I will attend the monthly council meetings in December and January.

“My resignation from council will be timed to avoid a costly supplementary election.”

Council chief executive Ben Gower said Mr Slarks had advised him of his plans for 2022.

“No formal resignation has yet been submitted,” Mr Gower said.

“He intends to keep on coming to council meetings for as long as he can.”

In a state first, there are already three former Millicent North Primary School principals on Wattle Range Council in John Drew, Moira Neagle and Dale Price.

No by-election would be required due to the proximity of the next four-yearly elections in October and so council would function with a mayor and 10 representatives.

Wattle Range Council has already had two resignations within the past 2.5 years.

Deputy Mayor and Corcoran Ward councillor Glenn Brown resigned in mid-2019 and moved to Mount Gambier while Riddoch Ward councillor Rick Paltridge left in August.

No Wattle Range Council has served out a full term since its inception in 1997 owing to deaths or resignations.

Over the past 40 years, Mr Slarks has worked in a number of South East schools including the position of classroom teacher, school counsellor and deputy principal.

He held the deputy’s role at MNPS in 1999 and was the principal of Kalangadoo Primary School between 2009 and 2014.

He also spent 15 years working in the Mount Gambier regional office as the regional educational psychologist.

Mr Slarks was previously an elected member of the Grant District Council and was involved with the family’s Poll Dorset sheep stud near Mount Gambier.

Millicent North Primary School deputy principal Carolyn Rayson will take charge of the school for term one next year while the selection process to find a long-term successor for Mr Slarks takes place.