Senior Grampians Tony Driscoll is being remembered as a ‘wonderful’ community member after he died over the weekend.
Key points:
- Northern Grampians Mayor Tony Driscoll died on Sunday
- He was last elected to the mayoral position in November last year
- Council meetings will be postponed until August 15 as a mark of respect
Cr Driscoll started his third stint as major of the Northern Grampians Shire Council last year but sadly passed away on Sunday after battling illness.
Fellow councilor Murray Emerson said he was devastated by the news.
“Tony and I first came together about 11 years ago when we joined the Northern Grampians Shire and we instantly took a liking to each other,” Cr Emerson said.
“[It] It wasn’t hard to get along with Tony Driscoll, he was a person who was very easy to become a friend with.”
Cr Driscoll represented the Kara Kara ward, taking in St Arnaud, since October 2012 and remained active with the council until his death.
He has served as major three times, with his most recent appointment beginning in November 2021.
Cr Driscoll was also the oldest from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018.
Leader who fought for region
In council statement, his colleagues remembered Cr Driscoll for his dedication, integrity and as “a passionate advocate for his community”.
Cr Emerson said Cr Driscoll campaigned the state government for funding for major projects like the Grampians Peaks Trail, the Underground Physics Laboratory, and was involved in their decision-making.
“Tony was part and parcel of all of that and he just had that way about him, that he could get people to agree with some of our requests,” Cr Emerson said.
“Tony had a lot of sayings, some of them that I could quote and some I couldn’t, but Tony was just easy to get along with.
“He was a wonderful person, he was a wonderful councillor, and he was a great mate.
“He’d been sick for a little while but you never expect this sort of thing to happen.”
Flags at Stawell Town Hall in Stawell and St Arnaud would be flown at half-mast and council meetings postponed until August 15 while councilors respected a period of mourning.
Cr Driscoll is survived by his wife Annette, two sons, two daughters and his grandchildren.
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