Final word as sun sets for Dawn
AND in the end, the lion of Southport roared one final time.
The last meeting of Dawn Crichlow’s 29 years as a councillor was dragging on and after four long hours, everyone was exhausted, ready to leave.
Sure, it wasn't as long as marathon sittings of past decades but from the looks on the faces of the 14 councillors in the room, they were feeling every single minute.
Everyone kept their heads down, many on their phones with those recontesting this month’s election eagerly checking the electoral commission’s website to see the size of the field running against them.
The three retiring city leaders, Cr Crichlow, Gary Baildon and Paul Taylor, were all in a very different place, taking in the chamber one last time.
The former mayor wore his best suit and favourite tie for the occasion while Cr Taylor was supported from the gallery by his beloved wife Yvonne, his son Darren, who is contesting his father’s vacant seat, and long-serving secretary Penny.
Cr Baildon, who served three terms as mayor, gave a short and cheerful speech revelling in his pride at conserving koala land and starting the light rail project in the 1990s.
Cr Taylor was far more emotional, thanking friends and colleagues and endorsing his son.
As council candidates inDeputy cluding Brett Lambert and Bern Young watched on, councillors, excluding the absent Kristyn Boulton, spent hours debating conflicts of interest and the last remaining items of business before adjourning for their date with destiny.
For hours Cr Crichlow, normally not shy of words, sat silent through a tense meeting, even saying during a break she had no intention of giving a speech or saying farewell.
But just before 5pm, the evergreen councillor received a goodbye gift from her allyturned bitter foe Mayor Tom Tate and decided on the spot to give an impromptu valedictory address.
Speaking for five minutes and 30 seconds, the Dawn of old returned, filling the room with tales of triumph.
From her 1991 election, to the demolition of Southport Mall and founding Monster Machinery Day, it was long on good memories and short on the bitterness and disappointment which she admitted last year was the reason for her retirement.
Drawing laughs and a standing ovation, Cr Crichlow praised the many councillors and staff she had worked with.
“I have liked everything I have done, I love the staff,” she said.
Mayor Donna Gates asked “Do you love us?”, to which Cr Crichlow shot back “Yes, sometimes”.
But in closing, it was the gospel according to Dawn.
“There are many things you can do by working in with the people,” she said.
“That’s very important. That’s all I’ve got to say.”
Cr Crichlow finished her speech, picked up her nameplate and presents and exited the chamber without looking back. Her 29 years at city hall were over but there was no time to waste, it was straight on to the next challenge.
I HAVE LIKED EVERYTHING I HAVE DONE, I LOVE THE STAFF DAWN CRICHLOW
MIKE Winlaw noticed something peculiar yesterday but unlike his fellow Division 10 candidates he is glad “Chevron Island now has an art gallery”.
Pictures of Donald Duck, Goofy and Sleepy were carefully plastered across council election signs overnight in East Chevron Island.
“It is quite humorous really,” Mr Winlaw (pictured) said.
“Whoever started this has started a bit of innovative art gallery. We could call it Chevron Island’s first art gallery –