Council
17 June, 2023
Honour for 'longest serving' councillor
A Wimmera councillor will break the mould if he is returned at next year's local government elections. The Municipal Association of Victoria's long service awards only recognise councillors who have served up to 35 years - and Rob Gersch is fast...
A Wimmera councillor will break the mould if he is returned at next year's local government elections.
The Municipal Association of Victoria's long service awards only recognise councillors who have served up to 35 years - and Rob Gersch is fast heading towards his 40th.
Meanwhile, though, he has been more than compensated having been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the King's Birthday Honours for services to local government and his community.
Mr Gersch believes he is the longest serving councillor in the state, having also served seven terms as a shire president or mayor.
It was back in 1983 when a knock on the door by a local resident left him with the suggestion that he stand for the then Lowan Shire.
This set the businessman with strong sporting and community ties on his way to almost four decades in local government.
There have been countless trips to Melbourne, much lobbying for much-needed funding and many meetings with politicians over the years; some more receptive and understanding than others.
In the same year he became a councillor he was made a Justice of the Peace.
Mr Gersch, 12 years with Lowan Shire, stood for the new Hindmarsh Shire after amalgamation of municipalities and two years of government by commissioners.
He also pushed for the formation of a statewide group to represent rural councils.
He was the first chairman of Rural Councils Victoria, a position he held for 10 years, and he still continues as a board member.
Mr Gersch, 81, is a life member of Nhill Sporting Club and Nhill Urban Fire Brigade and has held a place on many boards including the Little Desert Lodge and Wimmera Development Association. He was a volunteer cricket umpire for many years.
Wife Marian is a life member of Nhill Netball Club while son Craig has a club-player life membership of the sporting club.
Mr Gersch is quietly proud of the achievements of his home town and municipality while accepting many changes over the years, including the loss of school leavers to higher education and jobs elsewhere, effects of larger farms on rural life, a smaller workforce and distance from major centres.
He recalls battling for rural councillors to receive the same pay as their city counterparts.
"I said that we knew our constituents well and they knew us, and that when we went to a community or sporting function or even the supermarket, we're made aware of people's needs," he said.
"They might handle a bigger budget but they also have a bigger staff to do that."
Mr Gersch has four children, 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.