By LIAM DURKIN
LATROBE City Council passed a notice of motion at an unscheduled council meeting on Monday, March 31 to send mayor Dale Harriman overseas with the Traralgon City Band.
Cr Harriman will however cover the $9500 fee himself, after a huge amount of public backlash followed council’s decision to fund the mayor’s trip at ratepayers’ expense at council’s monthly meeting on March 24.
Morwell River Ward Councillor, Tracie Lund put up an alternative motion at the unscheduled meeting, requesting the city’s mayoral chains not be included as part of the tour.
The mayoral chains are largely symbolic, and Cr Lund went on the attack raising concerns about further costs should they be damaged or stolen.
Tyers Ward Councillor, Darren Howe, Yallourn Ward Councillor, Steph Morgan and Budgeree Ward Councillor, Leanne Potter voted in favour of the alternative motion.
Jeeralang Ward’s Joanne Campbell, Moe Ward Councillor, Adele Puglsey, Boola Boola Ward Councillor, David Barnes and Newborough Ward and deputy mayor Sharon Gibson voted against.
Cr Harriman (who represents Loy Yang Ward) left council chambers at the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre while discussions took place.
Assuming the chair, Cr Gibson used her casting vote, meaning the mayoral chains will accompany the mayor.
With the alternative motion defeated after a half-hour debate, council then deliberated on the original.
All councillors except Cr Potter voted for the motion.
The mayoral chains heading overseas are not actually Latrobe City chains, but chains from the old Traralgon Shire.
Adding confusion to the saga, some councillors have not actually seen the Latrobe chains in person.
It has been suggested the Latrobe chains should be on display at Latrobe Regional Gallery.
The gallery itself has had a change of leadership in the last six months, after senior curator and Yarram-born David Kerr left following an exhibition depicting the work of colleague and queer Indigenous artist Clinton Hayden and its subsequent fallout last year.
The gallery has since apologised to the artist, where it is alleged cultural protocols were not adhered to, while Mr Kerr has taken up a posting as Head of Art with the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.
Amazingly, news of Cr Harriman’s trip made it all the way to an Adelaide masthead a fortnight ago.
Local councils would have provided adequate fodder for the tabloids in recent weeks.
The Warragul & Drouin Gazette reported last week that Baw Baw Shire Mayor, Danny Goss apologised to former mayor Annemarie McCabe for a verbal outburst at a council meeting last year.
The April 2024 meeting descended into farce, with yelling, finger pointing, and even violin hand playing gestures on display during discussions surrounding place naming policy.
