Birdsville's Don Rowlands OAM has finally succeeded in his quest to become a Diamantina Shire councillor.
The Electoral Commission of Queensland advised on Tuesday that the Wangkangurru-Yarluyandi elder, who is the ranger-in-charge at the Munga-Thirri-Simpson Desert Conservation Park, had been appointed to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of former councillor Steve Cramer.
Mr Rowlands was the closest runner-up in the March 2020 local government elections, achieving 12.72 per cent of the vote, just behind Don Rayment's 13.16pc under the first-past-the-post voting system.
Because Mr Cramer's February resignation came within 12 months of the elections, the council had options under the Local Government Act 2009 to fill the vacancy either by appointing a runner-up or holding a by-election.
Commissioner Pat Vidgen said the council had chosen the first option and requested the ECQ to issue a vacancy notice to the runner-up.
"Mr Rowlands has accepted the offer of filling the councillor vacancy and will take up his role when sworn in by council," he said.
Prior to 2020, Mr Rowlands had unsuccessfully challenged Geoff Morton for the mayoralty in the previous two local government elections and said this week he hoped his appointment would pave the way for future re-election.
"In all my memory, councillors have been from off stations," he said.
"That doesn't truly represent what the community wanted.
"I will be guided by them and make them part of the journey."
Seven candidates nominated for the four Diamantina Shire councillor roles at last year's election and Francis Murray, Doug Cooms, Steve Cramer, and Donald Rayment were successful candidates.
Mr Cramer was the manager at Glengyle Station for S.Kidman and Co but is understood to have moved out of the district this year.
Commissioner Vidgen said that if Mr Rowlands had declined to accept the role, it would have been offered to the next runner-up, and then so on until the position is filled.
"If no runner-up had accepted, then the Local Government Act determines a by-election would be required," he said.
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Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
