Tea Tree Gully mayor Kevin Knight lent robes and chains to bereaved family of elected member

Tea Tree Gully Mayor Kevin Knight said he hasn’t returned his ceremonial garb because he loaned it to a grieving family to display at a funeral. See the latest.

Embattled Tea Tree Gully Mayor Kevin Knight ignored council demands to return its robes and chains because he had lent them to the bereaved family of a former elected member.

The district’s first ever mayor, Lesley Purdom, passed away late last month at age 84 two weeks ago.

Tea Tree Gully Mayor Kevin Knight was required to return the robes and chains by 4pm on May 7. Picture 7 News

In an email to the council’s chief executive officer John Moyle on Monday morning, Mr Knight said he had lent the robes to Ms Purdom’s family on Saturday afternoon.

Mr Knight was instructed by council to return the historical items by 4pm on Friday in its latest bid to sideline the mayor.

“The main purpose of my visit was to offer to the family the opportunity if they so wished to use the robes and chain at the funeral ceremony,” Mr Knight said to Mr Moyle in his email.

“I assured (the family) that Lesley would be extremely proud even if just the chain of office with her name on it was displayed somehow at the funeral ceremony.

“I also reminded her that one of the things Lesley was most proud of was wearing the robes and chain of office.

Knight has ignored several requests from elected members to resign. Picture: Keryn Stevens

“In fact after my first election in 2014 how I invited her to the office where we had a long discussion about the robes, the significance of them and how and when they should be worn.

“I invited Lesley to speak at the first citizenship ceremony I conducted as mayor about the significance and history of the role of mayor and the ceremonial robes.”

Mr Knight, who was unable to attend the funeral which was held this morning, said the family was “grateful” and he left the robes and chains in their care to use “as they saw fit” after discussing it with the funeral director.

“Personally I hope if nothing else they find somewhere to display the chain that Lesley was so very proud of wearing,” he said.

“I have arranged with the family to pick up the robes and chain at an appropriate time and place once the funeral and wake have ceased and the family have had time to grieve privately.

“I know in my heart that Lesley would be pleased.

The district’s first ever mayor Lesley Purdom passed away late last month. Picture: Dave Cronin.

“Once I have the robes and chain returned to me I would be happy to discuss their return and storage requirements.”

Mr Knight, who has ignored several requests from elected members to resign, was recently found to have breached the council’s code of conduct 31 times.

In a statement on Friday, the council said the “historically significant items” were still missing.

“We will now seek further advice as to how best to recover them,” the statement read.

The council has been contacted for further comment.