By Corey Everitt
This year will be the last for Graeme Moore as a councillor, announcing he will not be running in the upcoming election and will retire from his 14-year stint on the council.
Moore said his ‘time was now’ to depart from Cardinia Shire Council, being open about his intention with family and friends.
“I don’t want it to be a big deal, I don’t want to be on a pedestal,” Moore said.
“It’s retirement, I’ve retired from my business, retired from Yakkerboo.”
It’s not an easy role to leave. Each year on council he has attended Nar Nar Goon Primary’s school captain inauguration, this year he informed the ceremony that this would be the last.
“And I just cried, lost it. I’ve done that about three times, I’m a big softy,” Moore said.
Moore was elected to council after a by-election of the Bunyip Ward, winning comfortably with over a third of the vote at the time.
He made a popular candidate as an avid community member that would always put his hand up to tackle any task with his work in Yakkerboo, the Pakenham Show, local Rotary clubs and many others.
He also has the benefit of being a good laugh.
As reported at the time, Moore was at the Pakenham Show dressed as a clown and drenched from coming out of a dunking machine when he saw numerous miss calls from his wife to inform him that he won the by-election.
The jokes are fondly appreciated, however he served almost 15 years campaigning for and guiding the development of his community – two of those he served as Mayor.
His second term leading the council in 2018-2019 was a difficult year as his own ward was torn through by the Bunyip State Park Fires.
With Moore not contesting, Bunyip Ward will have approximately half its votes up for grabs compared to the 2020 election.
Still months out from the election in October, Moore wished to be open about his departure early to incentivise others thinking about running.
“I don’t want to hide it, otherwise people might not want to run if I’m in the picture,” Moore said.
“The earlier the better because people get the message that I won’t be in the election and I hope it means more people will run.”
Recently, he has been meeting with prospective candidates who are thinking of making a run in Bunyip and seeking his advise.
“One person I spoke to, had a coffee with for an hour and a half, thanked me afterward for taking the time to chat,” Moore said.
“He said the way you talk seems like you want to run again.
“I told him, I hope I didn’t scare him from running, but he said he was actually inspired by it. I really appreciate things like that.”
Most of all, Moore wishes to bow out with no great fanfare, only just respect.
He will spend his final year as Deputy Mayor where afterward he will enjoy his retirement with his wife Sue – they shared their golden anniversary last year.
“You gotta know when the time is right to leave and my time is now,” he said.
“When I leave the council, I just want to say I left with respect.”
