When the Local Government elections roll out this September, Warrumbungle Shire Council mayor, Cr Ambrose Doolan will not be among the candidates. The Coonabarabran Times sat down with Ambrose to reminisce about his time at the helm.

After four years as a Council representative, Cr Doolan said he hadn’t planned to run for mayor, but agreed to consider it following a request from his fellow councillors. He was duly elected to the position and commenced his first term as mayor of the Warrumbungle Shire Council in 2020.

Cr Doolan recalled his first Council meeting as a memorable one.

“One of the councillors wanted to discuss something that wasn’t in the business paper, but that can only happen if the mayor, as ‘chairman’ of the meeting, deems it to be an item of ‘great urgency’,” Cr Doolan said.

“So the general manager asked me, ‘so Mr Mayor, do you deem it an item of great urgency?’ And I looked up and everyone was looking at me, waiting for an answer. It was then I thought that it was a bit tougher sitting up front.”

Over time, Cr Doolan realised that there was lot more time and effort required by the role than he initially realised.

He prefeaced that it wasn’t a complaint when he said, “a lot of the time I have to catch up on the farm work on weekends, which has impacted me being able to get to friends’ birthdays and other celebrations – and I haven’t hit a golf ball in four years!”

However, Cr Doolan explained the support network that supported his shift into the mayor’s seat has remained strong.

“You can’t get big things done by yourself in Council, but by working with your fellow councillors, the general manager, his team and the community, big things can happen.”

He also explained that it was this support network that had allowed him to carry out the role alongside his farm enterprise.

“I could only carry out the role because of the wonderful support that I’ve received from my wife Lisa and everyone at ‘Toorawandi’ in keeping things going when Council business has me away from the farm.”

The work however, has reaped rewards, and Cr Doolan can recall several highlights, one of which was the Long Tan commemoration in Coolah last August.

“Veterans of the Sixth Royal Australian Regiment had gathered in Coolah to mark the day and honour the sacrifice of a local man who was killed in the battle,” he said.

“After a lovely ceremony in Coolah we went out to the sportsground for a long lunch, with the highlight being a rousing and hilarious speech by the former commanding officer.

“In a similar vein, the dedication of a headstone on the grave of ANZAC digger Thomas Howlett was another memorable day I experienced as mayor.

“It was the smallest grant that Council had applied for, but it meant so much to so many people, and it’s one of the things that pleases me the most to look back on.”

Overall, Cr Doolan said he had thoroughly enjoyed his time as mayor.

“But now it’s time to give someone else a go,” he said.

“I was raised to understand that we all have such a bright future because men like Thomas Howlett risked everything to give it to us, and I’ve tried to conduct myself in a manner that benefits that.”