253 – Mayor Simon Brewer and the Cheeky Monkey

Tim Ferguson, who sprang to fame as part of the Doug Anthony All Stars, was in Adelaide over the weekend, running a two-day masterclass on writing comedy. Steve was one of the participants, and caught up with him at lunch on the first day, to capture some historical perspective of this most noble art.

It’s been almost 200 weeks since Campbelltown Mayor Simon Brewer was on our podcast and almost 12 years since he was first elected mayor. But, alas, just like our podcast, Simon’s run as mayor will draw to a close later this year and he, also, is leaving on his own terms. So, tonight, we have one of those rare opportunities to chat with someone who has been deeply enmeshed in political life but has some freedom to speak openly without calculating the cost at an upcoming ballot.

What does it take to be a #mayor or #councillor in #localgovernment? Find out from @CampbelltownSA's Simon Brewer. And what are the #historic rules of #comedy? @RealTimFerguson gives us the lowdown while in #Adelaide. https://t.co/gOmAosk4kK CC @LGAofSA @TheTiser @Indaily

— The Adelaide Show (@TheAdelaideShow) June 27, 2018

Simon, I have probably laid it on a bit too thick about getting a chance to talk frankly with an elected member, because that’s something you’ve been known for. I recall the Facebook censoring as one example, when you criticised council for buying some property for a lot of cash in secret. Can you take us through the story?

The whole night is not going to be all the fights, but I remember seeing you one year as you lamented council for turning away the Indian festival from Thorndon Park. What was going on there?

I would argue that of all the various representatives we have in the different tiers of government, local government members should be the most free to speak publicly because their home phone numbers, emails, and addresses are on the council website – you don’t hide behind layers of spin doctors – so you should be free to speak your mind.

There was a rock throwing incident at a Council meeting in 2016. Did that end up being related to an issue, or just a random act of violence?

Take us through a week in the life of being a suburban mayor
– things to read
– meetings to attend
– events to attend
– media enqiries
– other council business

And remind us how much you get paid?

So, who IS attracted to becoming councillors and who SHOULD BE attracted?

How do you stay awake while reading the documentation? I joined the group of citizens that council sent documents to for our input. I couldn’t get through one document. SO. MUCH. DETAIL. And a writing style that is very non-human. Surely stuff gets lost – and would that be accidental or on purpose (smart council workers learning how to slip stuff through)?

You’ve been a champion for the ARC Leisure Centre. Before we talk about how good it is, could the lack of solar panels on it have been one of those things that slipped through the myriad of detail?

How important is the ARC?

How important are libraries?

What are other key council services that some of us may be oblivious to?

Something random I discovered. Greenpeace circulated a petition in your name, calling on you and the council to oppose oil drilling in the Great Australian Bight.

What will you miss most about being mayor?

Jill Whittaker, a Cambelltown councillor who follows us on Twitter heard you were coming on and said, one thing about being on council is it is never boring; and is often very personally rewarding. You meet great people and can help build a local community.

What should potential councillors be doing now, to prepare for their term?

Will there be shenanigans in local govt elections?

Nigel Dobson-Keeffe challenges the panel to pick the fake story from three stories from South Australia’s past.

Advertiser Jan 1938
Breach Of Bushfires Act
Cyril Roy Hall, of no fixed address, was' fined £2 with 10/ costs, by Messrs. E. Marchant and J. C. Munchenberg in the Campbelltown Court yesterday for having committed a breach of the Bushfires Act by lighting a fire at Athelstone between October 31 and May 1. Constable- Halloran, who presided said that many complaints had been received recently about the lighting of fires in the open. An outbreak, had occurred in the district recently, and residents were afraid that if the offences continued, serious damage would result. The defendant was seen lighting a fire on the side of the roadway on January 4. There was a quantity of dry grain in the vicinity. Hall explained that he intended to boil a billy, but he had no billy in his possession, further charge of having been idle and disorderly on January 6. The defendant was ordered imprisonment for 14 days. He was also fined £1. with 18 / costs for drunkenness.

South Australian Chronicle and Weekly Mail November 1872
CAMPBELLTOWN
Present — Chairman, and Councillors McSham, Hersey, and Robinson. Resolved that reward of £1 be offered for information leading to conviction of parties responsible for planting saplings along local roads and non-approved areas. Much effort has been spent in removing trees from some of the district’s new roads as falling branches have been a problem and clear plans have been constructed and formulated for the development of the district which includes the clearing of such trees. The councillors have pointed out that there are already designated copses for lumber and firewood collection and these are more than adequate for current requirements. Any such any future requirements must be coordinated by the council to ensure that all parties Council resolved to prosecute such offenders in future. Furthemore additional trees pose an increased fire risk and the aforementioned risk to travellers and large carts.

South Australian Register April 1846
FIRST SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GOLD MINE.
We were yesterday favoured with an inspection of two pieces of gold ore, raised from a lode of about two inches big, discovered on Saturday last by Mr Tyrrell, captain of the North Montacute Mine, being section 5597, for which the South Australian Company vainly tendered a preliminary land order, when this section, together with others, had been surveyed and advertised. The discovery is altogether as extraordinary as it is valuable, and if the currently-reported English analyses of some of the Glen Osmond (silver) lead, should turn out to be correct, the province of South Australia will undoubtedly become as rich in the precious metals, as it is already known to be in the ores of copper, lead, and iron.