www.thestar.com.au TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019 - $1.50
HIRST PLEDGES G TO VOTE WITH HIS HEART SHOCK SELECTION By Peter Chapman AT 10.30am yesterday 64yo Frank Hirst was out on his Ranceby property clearing trees, half an hour later was being sworn in as a new councillor for the South Gippsland Shire.
name, was delighted that Frank had secured enough preferences to be the next in line for the vacant council position. “I have known Frank for some years and first looked him up after reading an article he was featured in about agroforestry, I actually planted a plantation on my property after that meeting,” the mayor said. While the first of the two vacancies on South Gippsland Shire Council has now been filled residents will have to wait at least until Wednesday at 11am to hear who is next on the list to replace Cr Jim Fawcett. Nigel Hutchinson-Brooks gained the top preferences to be offered the role, but in a phone call with the electoral officer immediately after his selection he opted to withdraw. That means a new countback will be held tomorrow (Wednesday) at 11am to name the next councillor. That draw will be between Graeme Heath, Phillip Murphy, Steve Finlay, Graeme Winkler, Ben Corcoran and Kim White.
Message to his wife: “She’ll be right, it’s only for 18 months.”
In his words he was “like a rabbit in the headlights” when his name came out as the person to fill the vacancy caused by Cr Lorraine Brunt’s controversial resignation. Hirst immediately phoned his wife who thought he was still out in the back paddock with the chainsaw. “She’ll be right, it’s only for 18 months,” he calmly told her, obviously his wife Sharon was also somewhat taken aback by his surprise election. Hirst had failed at his two previous attempts to get a seat on the council, but the recount revealed that while he didn’t get the position last time he polled well. He has lived in the area for more than 40 years and is well known in the community as a life member of the South Gippsland Conservation Society and as the current president of the Strzelecki Lions Club. He said he was honoured to join the council and wasn’t afraid that the waters were a little turbulent inside the chambers at present. “All I can say is I will make sure that if there is block voting in the council and I believe in what the minority are saying, I will stand up for them,” he said. Mayor Don Hill, who was at the council chambers to hear a representative of the Victorian Electoral Commission call out Hirst’s
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BOLTER; Frank Hirst was left speechless when his name came up as the replacement councillor for Lorraine Brunt. He quickly accepted the role and signed his confirmation. Below, mayor Don Hill says well done to an old mate.
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