by W.P. Howey

Scone Municipal Council: The First 50+ Years 1888 – 1933

Scone Municipal Council: The First 50+ Years 1888 – 1933

Featured Image: Scone Municipal Council 1933 & Occupants of the Mayoral Chair plus Kia Ora Stud

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/scones-first-municipal-council-1888/

Of the first elected Councillors in 1888 three were destined to occupy the Electoral Chair: Alderman Dr F C Stevenson (1888 – 1890), Alderman J J Dodd (1890 – 1893) and Alderman E Solomons (1898 – 1899). A second generation of the Dodd family also served as Mayor; Alderman A J Dodd 1920 – 1923. Four Mayors feature in the six Municipal Councillors photographed in 1933: Alderman C J Surman (1926 – 1927); Alderman B J Millard (Absent in photograph 1928 – 1930); J W Joughlin (1930 – 1934) and also Dr Oswald Barton who subsequently served two terms leading up to, and during the WWII years.

Sometime occupants of my current home @ ‘Geraldton’ have featured prominently in Local Governance throughout history. In an extraordinary quirk of fate this continues today; albeit in 2020 as the current Mayor of the Dungog Shire Council (see later). Solicitor J A K Shaw served two terms (1997 – 1998, and 1900 – 1903 before residing @ ‘Geraldton’) followed later by Dr Oswald Barton.

See: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/john-abbott-kingsmill-shaw/

Solicitor John Connors lived at ‘Geraldton’ from 1986 – 1993 when we purchased the property from him and Di Connors.  John subsequently achieved very high legal office in Fiji before relocating to Dungog where he currently occupies the mayoral Chair.

See: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/judge-john-connors/

See: https://www.dungog.nsw.gov.au/council/dungog-shire-councillors

My meagre contribution was as Councillor for the Upper Hunter Shire Council 2008 – 2012. I think we established some milestones? We now have a Bypass of Scone of which I was a passionate advocate. I like to think I/we contributed to community in other ways; not necessarily connected to Local Government? One can waste a lot of time with the ‘superficiality’ of the system? I called it akin to ‘ceremonial eunuchs’. Perhaps I’m too cynical? The real power lies with the paid professional bureaucracy; especially the General Manager. Think ‘Yes Prime Minister’ and Sir Humphrey Appleby. It’s just like TV in real life!