Published on Thursday, 14 October 2021 at 4:36:24 PM

Councillors Josh Topelberg and Sally Smith were recognised at this week’s Council Meeting with Mayor Emma Cole expressing gratitude for their service and their unwavering commitment to the Vincent community.

“Councillors Josh Topelberg and Sally Smith have served on Vincent Council with community interest and future sustainability at the heart of their decision-making,’’ she said.

Mayor Cole praised retiring member Cr Josh Topelberg on his 12 years of service.

“As our second longest serving Council Member of 12 years, Cr Topelberg has served alongside four mayors and 22 Councillors, a demonstration of his ability to work with a wide range of people,’ she said.

“Cr Topelberg has been our Council historian and statesman, though still pretty young. Wise, respected and highly responsive to community members, his engagement throughout his time on Council has been consistently high, broad ranging and of great value.

“Josh has participated strongly in planning policy and statutory planning matters, including representing the City of Vincent at the JDAP, and has been a key part of the City’s Audit Committee, Reconciliation Plan Working Group and a range of Advisory Groups along the way.

“With a long family history in Vincent and his small business background, Josh has been a passionate, connected and active community and local business representative.

“Josh loves to deliberate at Council Meetings and has always added his perspective, never been shy to take a differing view or to fully interrogate a matter. But always respectfully, professionally and with intelligence.

“Cr Topelberg has provided a great example of positive, engaged, effective and heartfelt local government representation. We thank him for his significant contributions to Vincent Council and the Vincent community.”

Cr Topelberg said while he was still very much passionate about local government and community the time had come to move on.

“My kids are nearly 10 and 7 and it's funny to think that they have never known me to not be a councillor,’’ he said.

“Like all these things, when it's time, it's time. There is always a sense of "more to be done", but I also reflect on the many changes and successes over my time at Vincent and feel satisfied that now is the time.

“I’m going to miss representing the Vincent community. I have taken the role very seriously and learnt early on that what makes local government so fantastic is that you are often dealing with people's most personal day-to-day aspects of their lives: their homes, their work, the streets they walk, cycle and drive on, the parks they play in, the places they go to have fun.

“Achieving outcomes that benefit the community has been highly rewarding and as my colleagues, community and council staff will tell you, I love a chat and I will certainly miss the fun and not-so-fun discussions that are a part of the job.

“I've made a return to team sport on a Tuesday night so that will fill a small hole, but in general I want to focus on my business and my family, however a love of community is in my nature so I am sure I will find other ways to channel that part of who I am.”

Mayor Cole said Cr Smith was a valued member on Council and made an impact in her time in the role.

“Cr Sally Smith brought to Vincent Council a small independent business background, long-term community volunteering experience and a passion for all things local,’’ she said.

“Cr Smith has a common sense, proactive and positive approach with the ability to identify opportunities for Vincent to stride forward, improve and to support our community to flourish.

“Thank you for your contributions to the Children and Young People Advisory Group, Arts Advisory Group and Rebound Round Table working alongside Vincent’s Town Teams and, through COVID, the Arts Relief Grants Working Group.

“We wished it were longer, but your dedication has lead you to the place where you can’t do things by half and that is to be respected.

“It has been an absolute pleasure Cr Smith and I thank you on behalf of Council, the City of Vincent and our community.”

After two years of service in the North Ward, Cr Smith said she was ready to focus her attention on work and family.

“It was an extremely difficult decision to resign. I’ve been an active part of the Vincent Community for a very long time, but the time has come to concentrate on my career at ABN Group and enjoy more time with my family,’’ she said.

A resident of Vincent for more than 30 years Cr Smith said her experience working as a local town team member allowed a natural progression into Council.

“Vincent is a special place, the community welcomes everyone with open arms and I’m so proud to call it home.”

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