Long-time Katherine Mayor Fay Miller retires for health reasons

LONG-TIME mayor of Katherine Fay Miller has announced her retirement after being diagnosed with a disease that is ‘manageable, but not curable’

Katherine Mayor Fay Miller has announced her retirement. Picture: Keri Megelus

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LONG-TIME Mayor and former NT MLA Fay Miller has announced her retirement after almost two decades of service to the Katherine community.

The 73-year-old gave notice of her retirement from Katherine Town Council on Monday night, effective as of November 30, for health reasons

Ms Miller is retiring to move to Darwin for the medical assistance she needs after being diagnosed with a type of leukaemia called Myelofibrosis, which impacts the bone marrow, in March.

Ms Miller was first elected as Alderman in 2002 and then elected to the Legislative Assembly as the Member for Katherine in 2003.

Katherine Mayor Fay Miller enjoys a gulp of water from the once contaminated council water source. Picture: Justin Kennedy

She retired from the Legislative Assembly in 2008 following a horrific car crash that almost killed her before going on to be elected as the Mayor of Katherine in 2012.

Ms Miller said if not for her illness, she would have continued working as Mayor for as long as possible.

“My energy levels are pretty good,” she said.

“I had no intention of retiring, I absolutely love what I do.”

“It took a long time to get to this point, then I decided last week ‘Fay, you’ve got to draw a line in the sand.”

One of the most notable moments in Ms Miller’s career was when she demanded an apology from Federal health Minister Greg Hunt in 2018 after he reportedly told her to “f***ing get over” herself when she met with him to discuss PFAS contamination.

“I think if I hadn’t have been more controlled that day we might have had a different outcome,” Ms Miller recalled. “I don’t care who you are, you don’t speak like that to anybody.”

Fay Miller with CLP Leader Jodeen Carney when she was Deputy Leader. Picture: Susan Bown

She said although she would like to remain involved in public life, she is looking forward to spending more time with her friends, family and her husband, Dennis, who she married in May.

“I've got beautiful family and friends, it’s time to enjoy that.”

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Ms Miller said her resignation does not automatically trigger a by-election due to the time frame to the next local government elections in August 2021.

Advice will be sought from the Department of Local Government in regard to the vacancy of the Mayor’s position.

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