When nominations closed last Wednesday (August 8), there was one notable omission.
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Gordon Braithwaite won’t be contesting an election for the first time in over 30 years.
With over 32 years as a councillor and 14-and-a-half years as either Mayor or Shire President, he is the longest serving councillor in the history of Bellingen Shire.
The former logging contractor was first elected in 1971 and will attend his final council meeting later this month.
“I have enjoyed my time as a councillor, but I’m now in my eighties and feel it’s time to make way for someone younger,” he told the Courier-Sun.
He says that among his other achievements as Shire President or Mayor were three new libraries across the shire, two surf club houses, four senior citizen centres, sewerage extensions in Urunga, water supply to Repton and Mylestom, purchase of property for the Valley Rose estate in Bellingen, establishing the Connell Park sporting fields, funding for Bellingen and Dorrigo swimming pools and assisted with the establishment of the Nursing Home in Bellingen. The list goes on …
“Whilst in the top job, I arranged finance through cash and loans for a new high level concrete bridge between north and south Bellingen,” he said. “The new council at the time voted not to proceed with high level bridge to go for a lower, cheaper option.”
Gordon Braithwaite has made a huge contribution to growth and development of Bellingen Shire. His experience will be missed, but we do wonder how his wife Doreen will keep him occupied in future years!
