Daphne McDonald: Council’s touching tribute to retiring Palm Beach councillor
Daphne McDonald has received a surprise tribute which was revealed at an emotional final meeting for the veteran city councillor and three of her colleagues.
Council
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Daphne McDonald is to have a pool named after her it was revealed in an emotional final meeting for the veteran city councillor and three of her colleagues.
Councillors William Owen-Jones, Pauline Young and Hermann Vorster also attended their last meeting at the Evandale Chambers on Tuesday.
Mayor Tom Tate in a mayoral minute secured a unanimous vote of councillors to name the 50m pool at the upgraded Palm Beach Aquatic Centre the Daphne McDonald pool.
He said the councillor during 33 years of service had worked “tirelessly” for the city including a stint as Deputy Mayor from 2007-12.
Cr McDonald had shown “huge patience” to hold off on the pool upgrade when funds had to be directed to the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Mr Tate said the $85.5 million Aquatic Centre would become “the best community infrastructure” in the city’s south.
Veteran councillor Bob La Castra backing the mayoral minute said he felt a “happy sad” about his colleague’s retirement. He described her as a “great friend”.
“Thirty-three years is hard to get your head around. It’s an incredible time to give service to the city. Daph is truly a grassroots council representative. She has never been a politician.”
Cr McDonald held back tears as she said she was honoured to be told of the presentation.
She said she had worked with five mayors and numerous CEOs and councillors.
She said she hoped the new councillor would have a similar passion for the community.
Her concerns were about light rail heading south to the airport and overdevelopment.
“It’s not an easy job. Families are affected. It’s a 24-hour job,” she said.
The retirement of the four councillors will leave a massive experience gap in council opening up at least three chair positions on committees.
Cr Owen-Jones headed up governance, Cr Young was the City’s transport spokesman and Cr Vorster chaired the lifestyle committee.
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