Vale Malcolm Hole and Ray Brown

Wellington Shire and Cardinia Shire councils have paid tribute to Councillors Malcolm Hole and Ray Brown, who recently passed away.

Cr Hole’s foray into local politics began in 2000, when he stood for election to Wellington Shire. Cr Brown served as a councillor for Cardinia Shire since 2016.

Cr Hole was first elected in 2000 and was re-elected in 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2016.
He was mayor in 2002 and 2006. The former Wellington Shire mayor and deputy mayor was especially proud of his election to the board of the Municipal Association of Victoria and in particular the work he achieved while on the steering committee for the review of the Municipal Association Act 1907.

Knowing first-hand the importance of the timber industry to the livelihood of the Heyfield community, Cr Hole worked hard to defend and work towards the sustainability of the industry, not just in Heyfield but other timber communities throughout Victoria.

He was a founding member and served on the Timber Towns Victoria executive and was the president of the National Timber Councils Association for 10 years.

Cr Hole performed various roles on the Gippsland Local Government Network, Rural Councils Victoria and the Local Government Emergency Management Committee. He was a life member of Apex and a former district governor, dedicating 17 years' service to the community, and was involved with many boards and associations.

Cr Brown represented the Port Ward at Cardinia Shire from 2016 to 2000 alongside Councillor Graeme Moore, and represented Western Port Ward since October 2020.

Cr Brown lived in the region since 1970, and represented Council on a number of committees including the Audit Committee, Grants Evaluation Committee, Motorsports Clubs Steering Committee, Town Planning Committee, Westernport Catchment Implementation Committee, Western Port Biosphere Councillor Liaison Committee, and Yallock Drainage Advisory Committee to Melbourne Water.

Recently, he celebrated the opening of the Lang Lang Community Recreation Reserve and Pavilion, and oversaw the first roads commencing in Council’s Strategic Sealed Roads program at Koo Wee Rup as well as the commencement of works at Koo Wee Rup Recreation Reserve for a new netball pavilion and a new football and cricket pavilion.

*Thank you to Wellington and Cardinia Shire councils for contributing to this article.

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