WELLINGTON Shire and the Heyfield community has lost one of its most tenacious advocates, after councillor Malcolm Hole succumbed to illness on Saturday morning at the age of 76.
Cr Hole’s family, the community of Heyfield and the timber industry were his passions.
Always been a country boy, Cr Hole worked with a stock and station company for 12 years.
He opened his own business in Heyfield in clothing, retiring after 32 years.
Before working in local government, Cr Hole was a Water and Sewerage Commissioner for almost 17 years and was chair when four authorities were amalgamated.
His foray into local politics began in 2000, when he stood for election to Wellington Shire Council.
What followed was 21 years of fierce championing of and work for Heyfield and the wider shire.
Cr Hole was first elected to council in 2000 and was re-elected in 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2016.
He was mayor in 2002 and 2006.
After his most recent council re-election, his seventh consecutive, Cr Hole took some time to review his achievements.
The former Wellington Shire mayor and deputy mayor was especially proud of his election to the board of the Municipal Association of Victoria and in particular the work he achieved while on the steering committee for the MAV Act for the Future of the review of the Municipal Association Act 1907.
Knowing first-hand the importance of the timber industry to the livelihood of the Heyfield community, Cr Hole worked hard to defend and work towards the sustainability of the industry, not just in Heyfield but other timber communities throughout Victoria.
He was a founding member and served on the Timber Towns Victoria executive, including the role of state president for nine years.
He was also the president of the National Timber Councils Association for 10 years.
Cr Hole performed various roles on the Gippsland Local Government Network, Rural Councils Victoria and the Local Government Emergency Management Committee.
He was a life member of Apex and a former district governor, dedicating 17 years’ service to the community, and was involved with many boards and associations.
Wellington Shire mayor Garry Stephens said the loss of Cr Hole would be keenly felt throughout the region.
“Cr Hole was a dedicated member of Wellington Shire Council, working hard every day for his community,” he said.
“I had never seen Cr Hole as proud as the day that Heyfield won Australia’s Strongest and Most Resilient Community award in 2017.
“The only comparison you could make with Cr Hole’s beaming face that day, was when he spoke of his children and grandchildren.
“Cr Hole will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him and everyone who he advocated for during his considerable career in local government.”
National Timber Councils Association president Dale Harriman said Cr Hole’s advocacy for timber communities and industries led him to be involved with both Timber Towns Victoria and National Timber Councils Association, where he enjoyed several terms as president of both organisations.
“It was during his leadership at Timber Towns Victoria, Malcolm led the formation of National Timber Councils Association, after a request from the Howard Government to establish a national network of councils involved in forestry and plantation, and became the inaugural president of the association,” he said.
“Malcolm’s tireless work and knowledge has made [the association] the organisation that it is today.”
Cr Harriman extended the association’s sympathies to Cr Hole’s family.
Cr Hole and his wife Carmel, who died in 1997, had five adult children and 15 grandchildren.
THE Victorian Electoral Commission will conduct a recount of votes from last year’s Wellington Shire Council election to determine who succeeds the late Malcolm Hole.
Either Carmel Ripper or Christos Iliopoulos, the only two candidates who weren’t elected to represent the Northern Ward, will fill the vacancy based on a distribution of references from Mr Hole’s vote.
Mr Hole last year received the most votes to be the candidate elected first to represent the Northern Ward, which takes in Maffra, Heyfield, Stratford, Rosedale, Licola and Dargo.
Mr Hole, along with John Tatterson, reached the quota required to secure a spot on council on primary votes.
Ms Ripper, who lost out for the ward’s third councillor position last year to Carolyn Crossley, was elected to council last term on a recount following the resignation of Keith Mills.
As of Monday morning, the VEC hadn’t announced a date for the recount.
