Wayne Honor to retire before 2024 local government election

A Bundaberg councillor representing a huge part of the region opens up on his highlights and key decisions as he reveals he’s going out on his own terms after two decades.

Division 3 councillor Wayne Honor will be retiring before the 2024 local government elections after 20 years serving on Kolan Shire and Bundaberg Regional Councils.

Division 3 councillor Wayne Honor will not be running in the 2024 local government elections after a political career spanning nearly two decades.

Mr Honor confirmed on Tuesday, October 10 he will not be contesting the division he first won when it was Kolan Shire in 2004, prior to the 2008 Bundaberg Regional Council amalgamation.

Turning 65 in December, Mr Honor said he would retire to spend more time with family including his grandchildren, and to care for his wife who has been living with cancer for the past 30 years.

“It requires a lot of time to represent the community and to be there in case they need your service,” Mr Honor said.

“I feel very proud to have been a representative of such a wonderful community and to see it grow over the last 20 years.

“I just hope that somebody can come along and stand for Division 3 and represent the needs of a community that is very large and diverse.”

Mayor Jack Dempsey extended his appreciation to Mr Honor for his 20 years of public service to the Kolan Shire Council and the Bundaberg Regional Council communities.

“Wayne has been a fantastic advocate for Division 3, and has played a key role in shaping our community to be a better place to live, work and raise families,” he said.

“On behalf of our whole community, which is now over 102,000 people. I want to thank Wayne and wish him well for a fulfilling and well deserved retirement.”

Mr Honor counts the beautification of the Gin Gin main street as one of his proudest achievements, with the second stage completed in 2020.

Mr Honor said the beautification of the Gin Gin main street was one of his proudest achievements.

Mr Honor was notable for at times taking a minority position on matters before council, most recently being one of only three councillors to support Greg Barnes’ motion to provide detailed financial reports to inform the public of the progress and costings of the $76m Bundaberg Aquatic Facility.

While he said it is important for councillors to maintain their independence, it is equally important to keep in mind the democratic functioning of council.

“The important thing is to be independent of heart,” he said.

“When you‘re elected as a councillor, you’re elected by individual people and it’s important to be able to represent all people.

“But sometimes you can’t achieve what everybody wants … the important thing to remember is that when a decision is made you’re one of a team of 10 councillors and the mayor, and when that decision is made that is the decision of the majority of the council and you respect that decision.”

Wayne Honor's wife, Judy (left, with son Dwayne) has battled with a rare form of bowel cancer for over 30 years.

On the subject of delegation of powers to the CEO, another issue that has received recent community opposition, Mr Honor said councillors “can’t be the master of everything”.

“I’ve been very fortunate to have a good relationship with all CEOs that I’ve worked with and respect the way that they carry out their job, it’s a difficult role for them,” he said.

“It’s important that you have a hierarchy within the council that has delegation powers, and those delegation powers are used to the advantage of your decision making.”

Mr Honor said he feels a great sense of gratitude to the community for their support, particularly throughout his wife Judy’s long-term illness.

“You never know whether that person that you pass on the street is having a bad day,” he said.

“That will be the thing that I remember about my service in the community, is the good people that have been there who I’ve been able to assist in some small way, or just simply say hello to give them a smile; I think that’s what life’s about.”