Paul Gamin, former Gold Coast councillor for Burleigh dies at age 90

Tributes are flowing after the death of a long-serving former Gold Coast councillor. He’s being remembered as ‘the last of his kind’.

Paul Gamin (Back row, third from left) in 1985 when he was first elected to the Gold Coast City Council

TRIBUTES are flowing for long-serving former Gold Coast councillor Paul Gamin, who is being remember as a family man and a dedicated servant of the public

Mr Gamin died last week at age 90 after a long illness.

The husband of former state MP Judy Gamin, Paul Gamin was an accomplished politician in his own right, representing Burleigh on the council from 1985 to 2000.

Paul Gamin (1928-2019)

Mrs Gamin paid tribute to her husband of more than 60 years, saying he was “the last of his kind”.

“He was dedicated to the service of his beloved Burleigh and Miami which he served for 15 years and was twice elected unopposed,” she said.

“Even in retirement he would walk along his beloved Esplanade and if he saw fallen branches he would always carefully pick them up.

“But most of all his greatest pleasure was spending time with his family.

“It is the end of an era and the end of a generation of old fashioned, down to Earth representatives who looked after everybody and never let politics interfere with things.”

Paul Gamin at Burleigh Heads beach.

Paul Barry Gamin was born in Brisbane in 1928 and educated at Toowoomba’s Downlands College, a time which his family said was hugely influential on his life and moral outlook.

Returning to Brisbane he began a retail career and courted his future wife Judy before marrying in 1957.

The couple worked together in a series of businesses and had five children, Elizabeth, Caroline, Peter, Thomas and John.

The family was visited by tragedy when Thomas and John were killed in the crash of Ansett-ANA flight 149 near Winton in western Queensland on September 22, 1966.

Paul Gamin (third from right) in 1995 as a member of the new Gold Coast City Council.

Moving to the Gold Coast, the Gamins opened a curtain and materials shop in Southport on the site of the former Gold Coast Bulletin arcade in Nerang Street and became friendly with fellow shopkeeper and future councillor Dawn Crichlow.

At age 57 Mr Gamin decided to go into local government and was elected to council in 1985 as the Alderman for Burleigh Heads.

Cr Crichlow praised Mr Gamin as “a great person”.

“I worked closely with him until he retired and he was a great person who I had a lot of respect for,” she said.

Mr Gamin with then-Mayor Ray Stevens hanging Christmas decorations in the mid-1990s.

“Getting to the age of 90 is a great innings and my main memory of him was that he was always happy.

“He taught me a lot about local government and was a people’s person.”

During his time as an Alderman, Mr Gamin focused on improving his beloved suburb, planting Poinciana trees along the foreshore as well as sand dune improvements.

He also voted in some of the biggest decisions made during his 15 years in office, including the infamous sacking of chief executive Dr Douglas Daines.

Mr Gamin was re-elected again in 1995 after the amalgamation of Gold Coast and Albert Shire councils and retired in 2000.

In retirement the Gamins continued to live in Burleigh, doting on grandchildren Matthew, Timothy, Madeline and Sophie.

He also stayed abreast of local issues, including the extension of the light rail from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads.

Mr Gamin was famous for his passionate love of Burleigh Heads.

Former mayor and Surfers Paradise councillor Lex Bell said he was saddened by the loss of his friend.

“He was a kindred spirit in outlook, extraordinarily active in promoting his own area and was like a mother hen with chickens – giving care and immediate response to the problems of his constituents,” he said.

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Paul Gamin with two happy constituents in the mid-1990s.

“Paul had a great deal of common sense and did not suffer fools lightly - you couldn’t distract him with a lot of words, he always could get to the heart of a problem and was a very effective local councillor.”

Mr Gamin will be remembered at a requiem mass which will be held on Monday at Calvary Catholic Church in Miami from 11am.