WHAT else can be said about former Singleton mayor Neil McNamara?
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He’s seen it all in his 43 years of public service to the district.
His work has already been recognised by the people, with the awarding of the Order of Australia Medal in 1984 and the title of Freeman of the Singleton Shire in 2000.
Now, he’s an ideal inductee for this year’s Wambo Hall of Fame.
Neil was renowned for his ability to make big decisions such as the amalgamation of Singleton Municipal and Patrick Plains Shire Councils in 1976 and the removal of the Gowrie Street pool to make way for a shopping complex.
Despite opposition to many of the council’s proposals at the time, he steered the ship to a successful phase in the town’s history.
He was in office during a period of revolution with the arrival of coal mining to the shire and was instrumental in the creation of Singleton’s sporting and recreational parks, Rose Point’s facilities were made possible by the moving of the Hunter River levee bank, a decision that wasn’t popular with everyone.
The dairy farmer of Broke started his career being elected to Patrick Plains Shire Council in 1956, the same day as Colin Fisher (who went on to become a state minister), after some senior members of the then council stood down.
“The headline at the time read, ‘Young brigade takes over’, because back then you weren’t considered fit for politics if you didn’t have life experience,” he told The Argus.
He rose to the rank of Patrick Plains Shire president in 1971 and would lead the amalgamated council before retiring in 1998.
Neil is quick to praise his staff for the efforts of the council during the 70s and 80s.
“We had the most highly competent general manager that any council could desire to have in John Flannery,” he said.
Only two-and-a-half-years after the amalgamation of the Patrick Plains and Singleton Municipal councils, Singleton won the Bluett Memorial award for the most progressive council in the state.
“The new council had enormous experience through three former Singleton mayors and Patrick Plains presidents; while they praise me I truly valued their contributions,” Neil said.
In a testimonial about Neil to the then state member for Upper Hunter Colin Fisher, former general manager of Singleton Council John Flannery said that the growth and success of the council under Mr McNamara’s leadership spoke for itself.
“No other area in the state has experienced the rapid growth and associated problems arising from massive coal mining developments,” the letter read.
“Being a dairy farmer and deeply involved with the rural scene, he is most conscious of the needs and problems of the man on the land which he vigorously pursues.”
Other achievements during his time in office include the construction of the Civic Centre, Mitchell Line Road and the Singleton Senior Citizens Centre.
It wasn’t just council that benefited from Neil’s wisdom though with the popular man also holding several roles that included chairman of the Singleton Cooperative Society Store, director of Singleton Dairy Cooperative, a Councillor and chairman of Shortland County Council and chairman of Hunter Region Councils.
Behind the scenes, Neil said he owes family for their help, encouragement and extra work they performed on the farm while he was working with council, particularly his wife Joan.