Change of Mayor

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 19, 11 October 1983, Page 4

Change of Mayor

Raetihi's new mayor is Garrick Workman — he takes over from the Rev. Bob Feck who is retiring from Council after 6 years in office — three as councillor and three as mayor. Bob Feck who was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, 53 years ago received his early education at White Flains, New York before attending university in Ohio when he graduated with a B.A. in History in 1955. He then attended theological college in Lexingtan, Kentucky from 1956-59 before being appointed minister-in-charge of the

Church of the Ascension and rector at Maysville; Kentucky, from 1959-64. In 1 964 Bob Feck came to New Zealand with his wife Feggy and 5 children to take up an appointment as vicar of Manaia in Taranaki. In 1968 the family, now 7, moved to Wellington where Bob became Hon. Asst. Curate of St. Lukes Church in Wadestown. From 1968-71 in addition to his church duties, he was employed as • managing editor of the national Anglican newspaper 'Church and People'. - From 1971-75 he was

assistant editor and public relations officer for the NZ Fublic Service Association with responsibility for the FSA Journal and Newsletter as well as for general publicity material and press releases. In 1975 Bob and his family moved to Raetihi where he took up his present appointment as Anglican Vicar of the Farochial District of Ruapehu. In 1977 he stood for the Raetihi Borough Council and was elected. After serving 3 years as councillor he stood for mayor and was elected unopposed when former mayor, Feter Jones, stood down after two terms in office. This experience on council wan't his first attempt to get involved in public office ... he had stood unsuccessfully as Labour Candidate for the Egmont seat (now Waitotara) in 1972 and in 1973 he put his name forward, again unsuccessfully, as a candidate for the Wellington Hospital Board. After six years in politics and public o^K Bob is looking forward to having time with his family, his parishioners and the community at large. New mayor, Garrick Workman, born in Raetihi 37 years ago was brought up on the family farm 'down on the Pipiriki Road\ He attended Ruapehu College and has spent all his working life in Raetihi. Garrick has owned and operated Boyds Bookshop in partnership with his wife Maureen for nearly 1 3 years. Their two children attend Raetihi Frimary School. Garrick, who has already served 9 years on Council, says that he is looJdng forward to the next 3-^B term of office as mayor Ima sees a busy time ahead. Apart from the eyerpresent need to maintain and improve roading, paving and sewerage in the borough he sees' as one of the Council's major priorities the promotion of the town of Raetihi to encourage some growth. Another need is beautification within the borough — "the town is looking quite tidy at the moment but we need to do some planting and landscaping," he said. His only disappointment is that more candidates didn't stand for election to the Raetihi Borough Council. "This meant that ratepayers had no choice" Whilst in office Garrick hopes to maintain his interests in a wide variety of sport including squash, skiing and as a rugby referee.