Another memorial vandalised in a senseless act

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Not even a week after it was officially named after a Victoria Cross recipient, a Gillieston Heights park has been trashed by vandals over the weekend.

Joseph Maxwell VC Park was named in a special ceremony last Wednesday and has since had mud smeared across memorial plaques, turf ripped up and a commemorative Lone Pine tree also ripped from the ground.

Nearby residents found the destruction on Sunday afternoon and cleaned up the damage, thankfully replanting the Lone Pine tree.

Mayor of Maitland Peter Blackmore has labelled the incident as a straight out defiant act by someone/s in the community who obviously have nothing better to do than go around and vandalise a park.

Image supplied to The Maitland Mercury

"It is very very distressing that these things can happen when so many people put so much effort into beautifying their local suburb by having a park where they can sit down there with young children and babies, etc. and just a meeting place for residents to come and sit and talk."

The Mayor is urging anyone with information about the senseless destruction to come forward.

"Somebody must know something and so there would be a reward offering for the conviction of somebody who has caused this damage. It's a shame and like so many people would say you'd like to have caught them in the act."

The vandalism comes out after a World War I cenotaph was also vandalised in Clarencetown at the end of last week.

Centenary of the death of Maitland's Les Darcy

BY JARROD MELMETH and JESSICA ROUSE

Maitland will come together today to celebrate the centenary of the death of legendary boxer Les Darcy.

There will be a number of events today throughout the city where "Maitland's favourite son" lived and worked, and fell in love with sport of boxing which started his incredible career.

Les Darcy was one of the best middleweight fighters in the world and his career record finished at 50 fights with 46 wins before his tragic death at the age of 22 from blood poisoning.

Maitland Mayor Peter Blackmore says 100 years ago the people of Maitland all saw the boxer as someone to look up to and aspired to be him.

"People as I say were looking for somebody that they could support, they could follow, they could cheer on and I come back to the fact that just look at the 22 year olds nowadays. Could they have done what Les Darcy did in that time? 100 plus years ago? It was a sad loss, Maitland's favourite son, Les Darcy."

A service will be held at East Maitland Park at 12.30 today, while a plaque paying tribute to Les Darcy will be unveiled at the site where he used to work as a blacksmith.

"We have two schools that are sending about 60 children each to come along, and think of the impact that will have on those children that in sixty years time they can say I was there for the centenary of the death of Les Darcy, Maitland's favourite son. And it promises to be a spectacle," said Mayor Peter Blackmore.

Image maitland.nsw.gov.au

Planning Minister lets slip Mayor Peter Blackmore's retirement

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Maitland Mayor Peter Blackmore was taken by surprise yesterday when Planning Minister Anthony Roberts let slip he won't be running for Mayor in the September elections.

Anthony Roberts let the cat out of the bag during the opening of the new 1,100 seat grandstand at Maitland's No.1 Sportsground and took the opportunity to pay tribute to Councillor Blackmore who's served on council for 22 years and was also the state member for Maitland for eight years.

Whether it was the right time and place for the announcement, Councillor Blackmore simply replied "yes" when Anthony Roberts asked him to confirm whether he'd been considering retiring from public life.

"I had been thinking along these lines for all of this term bearing in mind that I am 72 years of age and the fact that I'd had 22 enjoyable years as the Mayor of the City of Maitland and also almost 8 years as the member for Maitland. I have just enjoyed so much representing the people of our city."

He will step down ahead of the September council elections, leaving the door open the next Mayor of Maitland.

"Now is the time after September 9th, that I can devote my spare time with my family and with my grand kids and most particularly with my wife Robyn who has been the Mayoress, who has been with me throughout and turning up at functions and its been a wonderful time."

Maitland Council's spending plans up for comment

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Maitland City Council won't be going on too much of a spending spree without the community knowing about it, with their proposed spendings for the next financial year up for comment.

The draft operational plan for 2017/2018 outlines what the council intend to spend $148 million on, including $13 million set aside for road repairs.

The plan underwent an expansion after the failed merger with Dungog, meaning more money can be spent within the Maitland council area.

Mayor Peter Blackmore is calling on the community to make comment and have a look at where their ratepayer dollar is going, as well as government funding.

Image Hunter Independant

"You've got to be able to show that you are listening to your community, that you are adding value for their rate dollar, and of course the fact that we did not have to merge meant that we could then concentrate more on the city and the residents of Maitland," said Peter Blackmore.

$55 million is derived from rate revenue with the money to be spent on new and existing infrastructure, community engagement and events and environmental activities.

Mayor Peter Blackmore says almost always "if people can see it, they will form an opinion. They're either in favour of it or they're not in favour of it. But they can see that we are putting money into projects".

It's the council's largest budget to date, also incorporating crime prevention strategies affordable housing and the Council's new website.

Feedback can be provided until May 15 and the documents can be viewed at www.maitandyoursay.com.au