Yarriambaick Shire Council chief Ray Campling leaves top job after 15 years

Mr Campling first announced his resignation from the top job last month and finished in the position on Thursday.

“It’s been quite a surreal experience and I’ve been overwhelmed by the community who have wished me all the best,” he said.

“I have had a wonderful 15 years serving this amazing community and council; it’s really been a wonderful journey.”

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He said the last 15 years had been an amazing time in his career.

“One highlight for me was seeing the community band together during the 2011 floods and creating six kilometres of levy bank around Yarriambiack Creek,” he said.

“Another was concluding the Silo Art Trail program which provides so much tourism for the area and was a wonderful collaboration between council, the government and the community.”

The Warracknabeal resident said he would continue to live in the region with his wife Helen.

“I will continue to live in this wonderful place,” he said.

“This region has been through so much – mice plagues, locust plagues, drought and floods.

“They have been resilient and positive throughout and I have been overwhelmed by their support.”

Mr Campling said he had other pursuits that he would like to devote more time to.

“I’ll have a break to recharge myself and we’ll see what happens after that,” he said.

“We live on 20 acres and I will be focusing a lot of time on one of my passions, racehorse breeding.”

Before his resignation, council had re-appointed Mr Campling for a five-year term in August.

He previously resigned from his position in 2011, but after overwhelming support from the community, he withdrew his resignation and continued on in the job.

“I have no doubt that they will get a great CEO to replace me,” he said.

“It’s a small council that punches above its weight.”

Mayor Graeme Massey said council had started the process to find a replacement chief executive. 

James Magee will act as interim CEO until a replacement is found.