HARDEN Shire Council general manager Max Kershaw has announced that he is bringing his 42-year career in local government to an end in November.
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Mr Kershaw announced last week that he would be retiring in November. He took up the position of general manager with the Harden Shire in July 2009.
He is proud of the fact that he has worked for rural councils throughout his career, which began in Parkes in 1972.
Since then, and before Harden, he worked in Tenterfield, Yallaroi ( which is in the New England area), Warren, Gunnedah and Narrabri.
He has worked as a general manager since 1993.
Two of the highlights of his career have been working for councils that have received the A R Bluett Award, which is regarded as the greatest accolade a council can achieve.
He achieved this with the Gunnedah Shire in 1989 and the Warren Shire in 1995.
“I am very chuffed about that,” he said.
The A R Bluett Memorial Award is contested each year by councils in NSW who would like to be recognised as being the most progressive in the state.
He said he has always been impressed with the resilience of country people and of how hard they work in making things happen despite all the adversities and challenges they face.
Locally besides the streetscape beautification project and the fact that the shire is in a sound financial position, among other things, it is not hard to see that he is very proud of the shire’s Youth Employment Program.
In the past five years 20 local young people have gained formal qualifications through apprenticeships and traineeships.
“It is a great thing for the council to give many young kids a start in life,” he said.
He is also proud of the fact that in his time with the council the time taken to process a development application has fallen on average from 50 days to 15 days and the fact that the now is moving towards a comprehensive Local Environment Plan.
“While I’m sad to be leaving, I believe the council is in a good position,” he said
He said he decided to retiree as he wanted to spend more time with his family and that they would be moving in the future to Scarborough Beach, Queensland, where they have had a property for a number of years and would be close to their children.
In his time in Harden he has been involved with the Apex and Rotary clubs and has been on numerous committees and hospital boards.
Besides being an avid Bridge player, he has represented Australia in correspondence chess for 20 years.
When asked what he would be doing in his retirement he said his wife Sharne has already placed two items in his retirement bucket list: that he learn how to cook and learn how to dance.