This afternoon former Wingecarribee mayor David Wood will attend his final council meeting before standing down after almost 40 years in Local Government.
The cricket fanatic - still a member of Bowral's third grade team - is drawing stumps after an extraordinary innings in which he has served the community continuously as an alderman and subsequently as a councillor since first being elected on Bowral Municipal Council in 1965.
He has submitted his resignation from civic office with effect from January 31, having chosen to make a swift exit after deciding not to seek re-election for another term on council.
"The time has come ... if you wait long enough people will eventually vote you out and I don't want that," said Cr Wood yesterday.
"And I'm a firm believer that once you make up your mind to get out of something, it doesn't matter what, you lose interest, so there's no use hanging around."
Boasting the distinction of being the last mayor of Bowral Municipality, having held that position for a decade, the first president of the amalgamated Wingecarribee Shire in 1981, the last president of Wingecarribee before that position was done away with in 1993 and then the first mayor of Wingecarribee the same year, the 71-year-old will undoubtedly leave huge boots to fill.
Over the years Cr Wood has served on numerous council committees and he is currently a member of nine, including the traffic committee, which he chairs.
Mayor Phil Yeo views his departure as a loss of "an extensive knowledge and understanding of local issues".
"David's keen interest, expertise and scrutiny of council business is legendary, with an unrelenting commitment to accountability," said Mr Yeo in a mayoral minute contained in the business papers for today's meeting at the Civic Centre.
"It has been a distinguished career for our longest serving councillor and former mayor and on behalf of the people of Wingecarribee Shire I wish David and his wife Dulcie a very enjoyable and active retirement from public life."
Cr Wood said there had been "enormous change" in Local Government since the 1960s, many of them for the better.
However, he lamented: "The amalgamation and the great increase in population has meant that councillors are very busy now and not as close to the people as they used to be."
Cr Wood said it ought to be remembered that a councillor's achievements were made possible only by the support he received. However, he conceded he was indeed proud that he had played a part in stopping quarrying on Mt Gibraltar, choosing an appropriate site for the Southern Highlands Visitor Information Centre at Mittagong - which he said did "a wonderful job" - and ensuring that sewerage was extended to the majority of residents in the shire.
"Most of the time I've enjoyed the role. I've had a few disappointments in life, but that's normal," said Cr Wood.
"I've felt I've listened to what the people had to say and I hope I've represented them well."
The vacancy on council resulting from Cr Wood's departure could lead to a by-election, although in light of the imminent March 27 election that is improbable.
His committee responsibilities are likely to simply be filled by alternate delegates until the new council is in place.
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