By Gerrie Carr-MacFie*
Many throughout Victoria in public and private sector fields have been affected by the untimely passing of John McLean, CEO at the City of Greater Bendigo. I was honoured to work in collaboration with John in his former role as CEO at the City of Ballarat.
In my public service career with Local, State and Federal agencies I have rarely met a man of such high professional and personal integrity. In particular I found John’s respect for colleagues, exceptional capacity for work, and his ability to build inclusive teams to be unparalleled. In my association with John a number of memories will remain. He quietly assisted with strategic input into projects to address Indigenous disadvantage within our regional city. He had a wonderful ability to be ‘inclusive’ in his dealings with colleagues and all members of the community. And he loved to don the lycra of cyclists!
I know many things will be remembered about John. Part of his legacy will be built infrastructure, strong management systems and economic activity in the Local Government Areas of Ballarat and Bendigo. But for me personally, I will always value John’s urbane style and remember him for an exceptional ability to treat female colleagues with professional respect and fair acknowledgement of merit.
I know John’s beautiful wife Claudia and two daughters are in the thoughts of many.
Vale John McLean. Local Government is poorer for your passing.
*Gerrie Carr-MacFie is Economic Policy Manager at Caloundra City Council
