Wattle Range Council has farewelled Corcoran Ward representative Graham Slarks at his final meeting on Tuesday.
The Millicent North Primary School principal announced at his school’s Christmas concert last month that his eight years at the helm would be drawing to a close as he was moving to become principal of Richmond Primary School in suburban Adelaide.
Warm tributes were paid to Cr Slarks at the conclusion of a marathon 4.5-hour meeting.
The tributes were not listed as an item on the agenda and the public gallery was empty due to the preceding unrelated 30 minutes of confidential discussions on a roadworks tender.
However, the tributes have been recorded in the minutes.
Mayor Des Noll thanked Cr Slarks for his commitment to council, Millicent North Primary School and the wellbeing of the Wattle Range community.
Cr John Drew, a former South East Region Education Superintendent, spoke on behalf of the education community by thanking Cr Slarks for his service to education in the region.
He added that Cr Slarks is a highly respected educator who contributed in a number of roles as teacher, an education psychologist and as a principal.
Cr Slarks advised that he would have liked to have finished his term with Wattle Range Council but appreciated the friendship and collegiality he had found among the elected members and staff.
Earlier in the meeting, Cr Slarks had referred to his departure when pointing out the perceived greater resourcing by governments of public facilities in the capital city compared to rural areas.
“My son had urged me to come and join the party,” Cr Slarks said.
When the resignation of Cr Slarks takes effect, 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, Cr Slarks has worked in a number of South East schools including the position of classroom teacher, school counsellor and deputy principal.
Cr 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.
MNPS deputy principal Carolyn Rayson has taken charge of the school for term one while the selection process to find a long-term successor for Cr Slarks takes place.
