After 27 years of service, Cobar Shire Councillor Harley Toomey has reluctantly decided it is time to step away from local government.
Harley was first elected to Cobar Shire Council in September 1999 after being approached by local businessman Roger Jackson to join his running ticket.
Placed ninth on the Jackson group voting ticket, Harley attracted a strong personal vote and proudly earned his seat on Council ahead of a number of other candidates placed higher on the ticket.
The first mayor he served under was Cr Peter Yench, who Harley remembers as being passionate about a range of local issues.
Over his 27 years on Council, Harley has had the privilege of working with a number of very good mayors, including Cr Lilliane Brady, Cr Werner Muhlethaler, Cr Peter Abbott and current Mayor Jarrod Marsden.
He has also worked alongside many good councillors, including Cr Bob Sinclair who, he counts as a good friend and one he has a lot of respect for.
“Bob speaks up and says what he thinks,” Harley said.
Harley said there had been times when factions existed within Council, making it difficult to achieve good outcomes.
“When the councillors all worked together, things were better,” he said.
During his early years as a councillor, Harley was heavily involved in various Council committees and community organisations.
Harley’s wife Coral recalls that he was often out at meetings several nights a week, including meetings for the preschool, squash courts and other community groups. “He was hardly ever at home,” Coral said.
Harley particularly enjoyed his involvement with the Mount Grenfell Board, Cobar Water Board and the Western Lands Commission.
He recalls travelling to Parliament to meet politicians and said he very much enjoyed attending Council’s Christmas parties each year.
One of the most challenging periods during his time on Council was when the organisation was struggling financially.
However, Harley said it had been rewarding to see it turnaround so that many improvements could be made across the Shire including the swimming pool upgrade, improvements at Ward Oval, construction of the Cobar Early Learning Centre, museum upgrades, the construction of the Miners Memorial Park, improvements at Mount Grenfell and upgrades at the cemetery.
Harley said he had also been fortunate to work with many good Council general managers, staff and members of the community who had all contributed to the ongoing progress and wellbeing of the Shire.
“I became a councillor so that I could give back something to the community that has given me so much,” Harley said.
“Cobar is a great community, it’s a tight-knit community and lots of people are keen to advance our town.”
Looking to the future, Harley believes funding will be one of Council’s biggest challenges, particularly following the loss of Resources for Regions funding.
Reflecting on his own time as a councillor, Harley said his aim had always been to serve with commitment, integrity and respect.
His advice to anyone considering standing for Council is to listen to the community and remember that councillors are there to represent the interests of local people.
“They also need to have thick skin as some people are judgemental,” he said.
After being encouraged by his family to consider resigning, Harley reluctantly made the decision to step away.
“Due to my health, I believe it is the right time to step down from my duties and responsibilities,” he said.
Mayor Jarrod Marsden was reluctant to accept Harley’s resignation.
“It is with a great deal of emotion, mixed with the highest gratitude, that I unwillingly accepted the resignation of long serving councillor Harley Toomey,” the Mayor said.
“As far as I am aware, I don’t know of anyone that has 25+ years of service to council and is also a Life Member of three community organisations (junior league, senior league, and Yabbies).
“That puts Harley in a category all on his own,” he said.
“He is a role model to so many (myself included) as a person, as a father, as a husband, and as a positive and active community member who would rather put his hand up and be part of the solution than whinge about the problem.
“And that is rare indeed,” Cr Marsden said.
Council plans to hold a special dinner event for Harley and his family to acknowledge his 27 years of contribution to the Shire and the Cobar community.
