By Ewen McRae
The Moorabool community is in mourning, following the death of councillor Pat Toohey last week.
Cr Toohey had been unwell for several months, and died on September 18. He had served on the council since 2004, including two terms as mayor.
A statement from the council last week said Cr Toohey would be remembered as a tireless advocate for his community.
“He was a strong advocate for the Moorabool community and worked tirelessly for the benefit of our people,” the statement said.
“He represented his community on numerous committees in his 15 years as a councillor. In recent times he was on the Greendale Recreation Reserve Committee of Management, Concerned Councils for the Moorabool River Flows and Environment, Rural Councils Victoria, and the Economic Development Taskforce Advisory Committee.
“In previous years he served on many other committees including the Municipal Association of Victoria’s Windfarm Working Group, the Western Highway Action Committee, the Section 86 Rural Growth Committee and the Rural Advisory Committee.
“Councillors and staff at Moorabool Shire Council will miss Cr Toohey’s passion and dedication to his job. We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Loretta and his entire family.”
Some of Cr Toohey’s proudest achievements came during his two terms as mayor, 2009-10 and 2012-13, including touring local schools and businesses with Victorian Governor Professor David de Krester, and accepting an award from the Local Government sector at the Resilient Australia Awards in 2013, for conducting the Blackwood Evacuation Exercise.
A condolence book will be made available at the council’s Ballan office for those who wish to write a message for Cr Toohey’s family.
The Victorian Electoral Commission will hold a countback in the coming weeks to fill the vacancy in the Woodlands ward.
