Peter Wilkins: Former sports commentator, columnist elected Shoalhaven deputy mayor

A former Walkley Award winning reporter with 37 years in the media industry has made the jump to local politics after being elected deputy mayor of a NSW south coast council.

Shoalhaven Council chambers. Picture: Shoalhaven Council

A former Walkley Award winning reporter with 37 years experience has come out of retirement as deputy mayor of Shoalhaven City Council.

Journalist Peter Wilkins moved to the coastal region in 2014 while he was working as a sports reporter for multiple news outlets.

Three years later, Mr Wilkins – who was the ABC’s chief NRL commentator, sports columnist for the Illawarra Mercury and co-host of ‘The Fat’ on ABC Television – retired.

“I was sailing off into the sunset, I was playing a lot of golf, doing a lot of lunches, but a few things triggered my decision to run for council,” Mr Wilkins told this publication.

The former ABC reporter said he was sick and tired of the state of the Shoalhaven region.

Former ABC sports reporter, Peter Wilkins. Picture: Shoalhaven Council

“There’s potholes, the state of our roads, things happening in the community; it was just upsetting,” Mr Wilkins said.

So the decision – with some help from his wife and friends – was made: Mr Wilkins was stepping out of retirement to run for local government.

Peter Wilkins was elected Shoalhaven deputy mayor on October 14. Picture: Shoalhaven Council

“It was the first time I had done anything like this, I had never run for anything before,” he said.

Mr Wilkins ran under newly elected mayor Patricia White’s Shoalhaven Independent Group ticket and was elected alongside other members of her team.

Mr Wilkins was elected deputy mayor by his fellow councillors during the first ordinary meeting on October 14.

“I wanted to run because I want to make a difference,” he said.

“I met Patricia White nearly nine years ago when she was a councillor and I was amazed with her tenacity to get things done.

“With her running, I knew I wanted to be on that ticket.”

Newly elected Shoalhaven mayor, Patricia White. Picture: Shoalhaven Council.

Despite having no local government experience, Mr Wilkins was involved in a community debate over the proposed Rockfield Park development when he first moved to the Shoalhaven from the Sydney Northern Beaches in 2014.

The proposal would have seen a large sporting complex constructed, alongside multiple units.

“The community was against it because it didn’t suit the area,” he said.

Community meetings were held at the time – which then councillor Ms White attended – resulting in the development not going ahead.

“I saw Patricia at those meetings and from there, I have watched her get a lot of stuff done,” Mr Wilkins said.

The award-winning reporter said he was going to strive to do the same thing while on council: get things done.

“There’s so much that needs doing, but I’m excited to have a go and work with this team to achieve what needs to be done,” he said.

“It’s a jump from reporting to local government, but I’m keen to get started.”

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Originally published as Peter Wilkins: Former sports commentator, columnist elected Shoalhaven deputy mayor