Kyabram and Tongala were among the first towns visited by Campaspe Shire’s recently appointed interim chief executive officer Tim Tamlin last week, Kyabram Deakin ward Councillor Daniel Mackrell acting as tour guide for the shire newcomer.
Mr Tamlin has been undertaking a series of town visits with members of the nine-strong elected local government authority — enabling the councillors to provide a first-hand insight into their home towns.
The agenda for the Kyabram tour included Mangan St and Allan St, and Mr Tamlin said the long-time history of Mr Mackrell — his late father Neville was a respective butcher and business man — made it an informative experience.
Mr Tamlin has been in the role at Campaspe Shire for more than a month and said he was hoping to have a stronger understanding of the shire by the end of July.
And while his tenure in the shire’s “hot seat’’ will come to an end in October, he is planning to provide a significant head start for the incoming CEO — the search for who is in its infancy after the appointment of consultants to crate a short list.
The Campaspe Shire role hasn’t quite been a poison chalice, but there have been a handful of local government experts in the CEO role in the past decade.
Mr Tamlin, who has also been hosted by Councillor Adrian Weston at Rushworth (Waranga ward), Leanne Pentreath in the West (at Torrumbarry) and will this week spend time with Rochester ward’s Councillor Paul Jarman, said Mr Jarman’s “turf” was next on the list.
He is expecting to be provided with an insight into the dreams of the hospitality company owner for his area during the meeting.
Mr Mackrell was born and bred in Tongala, but also has an extensive operating knowledge of Kyabram and Echuca through the activity of his coffee-roasting business throughout the region.
“I hoped to have spent some time in each of the councillors’ home towns by the end of the month,” Mr Tamlin said.
Mr Tamlin had his job interview at Rushworth, but since then his time at council (a little over a month now) has been spent in the company of Mayor Chrissy Weller, and with Cr Gates — who acted as Deputy Mayor while Cr Weller was on leave.
The interim CEO also spent time at a national general assembly with Councillor Rob Amos.
Mr Tamlin said he enjoyed being out and about, but with a job like Campapse CEO there was always an element of being “chained to the desk”.
He did suggest that people could expect to see us him at community events between now and the end of his time with Campaspe.
Mr Tamlin said his involvement in two council meetings, along with the initial tours of the shire, had given him an appreciation of the councillors — and their goals.
“It is a diverse group and they all bring something to the table,” he said.
“I anticipate enjoying my time working with them.”