Tate Papworth
Brimbank council will look a lot different come October with two councillors confirming they won’t stand for re-election.
Former mayor John Hedditch and Cr Daniel Allan both told Star Weekly they are set to call time on their stints in public office.
Cr Allan said the upcoming birth of his first child was the reason behind his decision.
“My wife is pregnant with our first child and I really want to be supportive … I don’t want her raising the child on her own,” Cr Allan said.
“It’s tough … council can take up three or four nights a week and that’s not fair on her.
“Each term is also four years in length and I don’t want to be away for four years.”
Cr Hedditch declined to comment on his decision.
Cr Hedditch was the first elected councillor to take up the position of mayor following the departure of state government imposed administrators.
Following the completion of his year as mayor, Cr Hedditch told Star Weekly it had been a major shake-up to his routine.
“I was semi-retired when I decided to put my hand up, and then I got elected and then elected mayor,” he said.
“So I went from playing golf, babysitting the grandkids and doing some community work, to working 60-80 hours a week in those first five to six months – that was massive, a huge culture shock.”
Another councillor, Lucinda Congreve, opted not to see out her term and resigned from the council on March 1.
She cited family reasons as the driving force behind her decision, but sources have told Star Weekly a lucrative job offer was also a major consideration.
