Maitland mayor Peter Blackmore has copped his fair share of hard knocks.
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Like any politician he has had his lovers and haters, all of whom have helped shape him into the seasoned civic leader he is today.
News this week that the city’s longest serving mayor of 21 years has been honoured with an Order of Australia Medal comes as no surprise.
Cr Blackmore has been Maitland’s mainstay for 36 years.
He has nurtured the city through some tough times including natural disasters, a council sacking and more recently the controversial Levee project.
He fought tooth and nail for the Maitland Hospital redevelopment in the early 1990s, a new railway station for Metford, took former premier Morris Iemma to task at a civic reception to fund airconditioning in Maitland Town Hall and snared millions of state dollars to fund school infrastructure projects across the city.
He has been at the helm as Maitland earned the title of NSW’s fastest growing inland city, the place where everyone wants to be.
While each of these were major milestones for the city, our 70,000 residents would know little about the man behind the scenes.
For Cr Blackmore the accolades and achievements were bittersweet, all coming at a personal price.
He missed graduations, birthdays, anniversaries and family get-togethers.
He said it is his wife Robyn, his children and grandchildren who have been his rocks, supporting him through a roller coaster 36-year career.
Rumours that the city’s boss will call it quits at the next local government election are just mere speculation according to Cr Blackmore who says his heart will be in this city until the very end.
That said, when he does leave, Cr Blackmore can step aside knowing he has left an indelible mark on our town.
His will indeed be big shoes to fill.
