The Gawler Council has been asked to acknowledge the contribution made by two former public figures in the town by either naming a street or reserve in their honour.

Local Member of Parliament Mr Tony Piccolo made a presentation to Gawler Council last night (Tuesday 23rd January) requesting the contribution made by John “Jack” Clark and Elaine “Meredith” Crome to public life in both Gawler and to the State of South Australia generally be recognised.

Born at Pinkerton Plains, Jack attended both Gawler Primary School and Gawler High School and after completing his tertiary studies at Adelaide University went on to become a teacher at Gawler Primary school from 1926-1952.

Mr Piccolo said Jack held several positions on local committees and boards including:

• Chairman of the Gawler South Football Club,

• Vice-Chairman of the Gawler Football Association,

• President of the Gawler Town Band,

• As a member of the Elizabeth Boys Technical High School Council,

• Member of the Gawler Children’s Hospital Auxiliary,

• Commentator at the Gawler Show and Patron of the Gawler Marching Girls Team.

“He was a Councillor in the Gawler Corporation for 3 years before going on to be elected as a Member of State Parliament in a bye-election in 1952,” said Mr Piccolo.

“Jack served as the Member for Gawler and then Elizabeth for 21 years until his retirement in 1973.”

“In his maiden speech to Parliament Jack spoke of many issues still of relevance today, including the need for more housing balanced with the need to protect agricultural land the need to attract more industry and jobs to Gawler to diversify the economy.”

“His life and activities were centred around the Gawler community.”

Mr Piccolo said Jack was an MP before we had electorate offices, so to serve his community he built one at his home.

Meredith Crome was a trailblazer for women in Local Government.

She was the first elected female Councillor of the Town of Gawler, as the Councillor for the Gawler South Ward from 1972 until 1983.

During her tenure at the Town of Gawler she achieved a great deal including:

- Opening committee meetings, to the public

- Reducing the number of committees from an unwieldy 29

- Instigation of a town needs study

Meredith was the first woman president of the Mid North LGA and first junior vice-president of the South Australian LGA.

Mr Piccolo said Meredith was the first woman President of the Local Government Association (LGA) – 1982-1983.

“She paved the way for female leadership in the LGA and since then six women have presided over the organisation,” said Mr Piccolo.

During her extensive public life Meredith was:

• a member of the Australia Day State Council.

• a member of the Local Government Advisory Commission, the State Local Government Industry Training Committee and the Local Government Training Council.

• a lecturer for the Diploma in Local Government Administration at TAFE SA.

In 1987, Ms Crome, received an Order of Australia for service to local government.

Ms Crome has authored a range of books related to planning, law interpretation, and local government law and practice.

Mr Piccolo said Meredith recalls that when she first got into office as a Councillor, the presumption was that all Councillors were male. She was invited to Government House and the invitation said, “Black Tie”. She received apologies from the Governor and the organisers.

“Another example provided, was attending the Institute of Municipal Management conference and finding she had been booked to share her room with a male colleague,” said Mr Piccolo.

Meredith currently lives in Tasmania.

Mr Piccolo said he recalls having many discussions about local government with Meredith as a young councillor and found her advice and guidance very insightful and helpful.

“I never met Jack, but I have heard he was much loved by the local community”, said Mr Piccolo.

“Both Jack and Meredith are worthy candidates to be considered for inclusion on the list of names for local streets or reserves,” added Mr Piccolo.