Respected duo farewelled

RETIRING councillors Prue McBeth and John Gregory were farewelled by Manawatu District Council staff last week after four terms on council.

The two councillors were special guests at a morning tea attended by fellow councillors; District Mayor, Ian McKelvie, and Chief Executive, Lorraine Vincent, as well as former Deputy Mayor, Mervyn Craw, and former Chief Executive, Rod Titcombe.
During her 12 years’ service, Cr McBeth had served as Deputy Chairperson of the Leisure Subcommittee and Chairperson of the Community Funding Subcommittee, as well as two terms as Chairperson of the Community Wellbeing Subcommittee.

Apart from serving a term as Deputy Mayor, Cr Gregory was chairperson of the Submissions Subcommittee, Deputy Chair and Chairperson of the Strategic Planning and Policy Committee and member of the MDC/Palmerston North City Council Joint Strategic Planning Committee.
Speakers at the farewell referred to Cr McBeth as the “Council Guardian” who had brought a rural voice to the council table and was never afraid to air a definite opinion.
She had been a vigorous advocate for the Kiwitea-Pohangina Ward, and the Manawatu District at large, and never under-estimated the importance of working as part of a unified team.

Widely acknowledged as “Mr Feilding”, Cr Gregory’s unyielding focus on his home town never lessened, but during his 12 years on council he had broadened those opinions and became one of the district’s strongest advocates.

His role in helping to change people’s perceptions about the importance of a CBD upgrade was immeasurable, and when the Feilding clock tower construction was completed, it acted as a turning point in community support and testament to his perseverance and vision.