At a special event on Thursday, February 15, members of the community and Weddin Shire councillors gathered at the council for the unveiling of the Maurice Simpson Memorial Board dedicated to former mayor Maurice 'Mo' Simpson.
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Weddin Shire Mayor Craig Bembrick described Mo as a great contributor to the shire, being a former mayor, deputy mayor and councillor, serving the council for 17 years.
Cr Bembrick said Mo served and supported the community by being involved in many community organisations including the Lachlan Regional Transport Committee, Grenfell and District Senior Citizens Welfare Committee, Grenfell Health Council, Grenfell Multipurpose Service Health Committee, the Grenfell Show Society, Grenfell RSL, Grenfell Rotary Club, SES and Rural Fire Service.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke thanked Weddin Shire's councillors, current and past, for recognising the contribution of the late Mo Simpson.
"Mo is a very special person, I think, to everyone in this room and I always find it difficult to talk about him publicly," she said.
Ms Cooke described Mo as "Grenfell through and through", but said he always had an eye on the broader region.
"He always had an eye on the broader region and the contribution that Grenfell could make to the broader region, the important role that this shire plays in the Central West and indeed beyond.
"His heart was firmly in regional NSW and this shire meant absolutely everything to him," she said.
Ms Cooke said his formal contributions were only touched on at the dedication, but his informal contributions included his good advice and mentoring to so many people in all walks of life.
"Whatever they may have been facing; challenges, opportunities, threats - he was always that person you could turn to for very, very sound advice," Ms Cooke said.
"Mo had a significant impact on so many people."
Ms Cooke said there are very few forums, particularly those relating to local government, that she goes to throughout NSW, where Mo doesn't come up, and some of his contributions.
"He always had the best interests of rural and regional people at heart and wanted so desperately to see young people succeed [and] reach their full potential," she said.
Cr Stuart McKellar moved the original motion for the honour board. The board sits behind the Mayor so it is in full view on livestream.
