A former mayor who brought progress to the town when it was known as “sleepy hollow” was honoured at Tuesday night’s council meeting.

He is Mr A.C. Elliot, mayor from 1925 to 1936.

Seven of his council of nine aldermen resigned in 1936, when a ratepayer took action to proceed against the council. 

With Mrs Elliot as his hard-working mayoress, Mr Elliot helped bring many advances to his town.

Among these were the first tar-sealed roads in the district and the familiar long bridge across Kooloonbung Creek.

At last week’s meeting, the mayor, Ald C.C. Adams, presented Mr Elliot with a certificate of appreciation under seal of council.

He also praised the service given by Mrs Elliot, who accompanied her husband at the presentation. 

The mayor said Mr Elliot, who was awarded a military cross in the First World War, was an original member and later president of the RSL Sub-branch at Port Macquarie.

He said that among tributes paid to him in sporting circles was the naming of the town’s first surf boat ‘Ace’, after his initials.

“Mr Elliot was also held in high standing as a solicitor, for the years which he practised at Port Macquarie,” Ald Adams said.

In thanking the council and others for their kind remarks, Mr Elliot said the work he did for the community was well worthwhile.

He said he and his wife left feeling they had done something for Port Macquarie, and they always met old friends when they returned regularly over the years.

Reminiscing, Mr Elliot said when he was first elected to council the town was known as “sleepy hollow”.

He said it was presided over by a lot of elderly gentlemen who threw up their hands in consternation if anything new was proposed.

”You can imagine how they felt when myself and another person were elected at the tender age of 32 years”, he said.

“The mayor took one look at us and commented ‘Tut, tut! Two schoolboys!’. 

“Council’s revenue at the time was between $1400 and $1600 a year,” Mr Elliot said.

“The mayor received an allowance of $30 a year, but by long established tradition donated it to the town band.” 

Mr Elliot said that when he resigned in 1936, council’s revenue had increased to $4000 a year.

“We certainly enjoyed our 17 years in Port Macquarie and the work we put into the town was more than compensated by the friendship and goodwill we enjoyed here,” Mr Elliot said.

Legacy Ball

The Legacy Ball was, as usual, one of the bright spots of the social calendar, and at the same time the grand total of $5300 was handed over from Port Macquarie for Taree Legacy.

The area of Taree Legacy embraces Port Macquarie, and each year a notable contribution is made towards the work of Legacy by local residents. This year was no different with and the following amounts generously donated.

Mr Ken Radley made the RSL Club’s contribution of $1000; Mrs Daisy Smith, president, handed over $1800 from the Torchbearers for Legacy, and president Mr Gary Knutson passed on the Junior Legacy Group’s cheque for $2500.