John Horton became the new Mayor of Harden Shire Council at the monthly Council meeting held at the Harden Shire Council Chambers last Wednesday 17 September.
Councillor Horton challenged Mayor Chris Manchester for the postion of Mayor and won the ballot 4 votes to 2.
Councillor Matthew Stadtmiller did not re-contest the position of Deputy Mayor. Councillor Neil Reid was unchallenged for the position of Deputy Mayor and will now make up the new look team for Harden Shire.
Mayor Manchester has spent a total of 16 years as Mayor in 3 separate terms and 27 years as a councillor with Harden Shire Council.
Mayor Horton said he is driven by several factors and is determined to serve the people of the Harden Shire including building on the good foundations already in place in the shire, having a transparent council and keeping the community informed.
“As a council we need to obtain relevant constructive feedback from the community and act accordingly, work with all community groups and partner with the chamber of commerce to assist in growing the retail sector and tourism in the shire. We need to continue to maintain the best roads and fire service for the farming sector, the life blood of Harden Shire” Mayor Horton said.
After coming to live in Harden in 2009 Horton quickly involved himself in the local community. Mayor Horton has strong links to the area and was raised on a sheep and cattle property in the Bungendore District in the 1940’s.
His great grandparents were of Irish, Scottish and English background. His great, great grandfather came from Rugby in England and settled at Rugby near Boorowa some 170 years ago. He said that it is possible his ancestor named the Australian town of Rugby.
At age 10 he was sent to boarding school and spent three years at St Patrick’s College Goulburn and then four years at Inveralochy Agricultural College, situated 15 miles from Goulburn. In his final year he was the College Captain and Captain of the first XV Rugby team. With a smile he added we were unbeaten in the year of 1957, our greatest achievement was victory over Canberra Boys Grammar School.
After leaving College he worked as a bricklayer’s labourer, whilst waiting to be admitted to the CSIRO at Black Mountain Canberra. John spent two years in Plant Industry and three years in Soil Physics.
It was during this time he attended night school and graduated as a Woolclasser. Again more night school-studying Mercantile Law and Accountancy fundamentals. He went on to class some of NSW best superfine Merino clips.
John said “Always looking for a new challenge I joined Beecham Research Laboratories International and was appointed State Manger – NSW and ACT. This position involved connecting with 600 Doctors and educating them in the side effects, precautions and contra-indications for the new semi synthetic penicillins, which were discovered by Beecham at Brookom Park in the UK. Two of the best known penicillins being Amoxicillin and Ampicillin.”
It was time for a change and after 15 years with Beecham John joined American Express International Incorporated. He was responsible for opening the Canberra office at Centrepoint Canberra City. Acting as State Manager for NSW and ACT his team was heavily involved in marketing all aspects of Americian Express products, Amex cards, Corporate Cards, Travel related products, Travellers cheques and travel related offices just to name a few.
John has four sons and eight grandchildren all living close to Harden. John said, “In the 1980s I was in the Canberra Times. It said ‘Well known local identity John Horton is off to Western Australia to awaken a sleeping giant.'”
He was appointed State Manager Western Australia, to build this run down Amex State in preparation for The America’s Cup defence, it was during this time that John was awarded American Express Australia, State Manager of the Year, for three consecutive years.
What John thought was the final chapter in his working career, was working with National Capital Motors as their Group Fleet Manager. Campbell Brede the owner and Managing Director of the company, operated ten motor vehicle divisions at the time in the ACT and NSW.
John and his team were responsible for motor vehicle sales to Federal Government, State Government, ACT Government, and local Governments, the latter being Councils. It was during these times he was awarded Fleet Manager Of The Year, Australia, by Nissan Motor Company.
He retired to Harden and as he said, “You can take the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy.”
He simply loves Harden, its people, the beautiful countryside, the crops, high quality sheep and cattle, the fresh air and the hospitality that country people do the best.
John said after he did a makeover on an old cottage which he purchased in Harden in 2009 and made it liveable, he became bored and wanted more action.
He joined Rotary (is currently The Rotarian Of The Year for Murrumburrah Harden Rotary Club), is on a Medicare Local Board Murrumbidgee Wagga. Local committees include: the local Hospital advisory committee, Harden Education Foundation, Healthy Harden Medicare Local Committee and Chamber of Commerce.
In his spare time John enjoys all forms of music, he is an accomplished pianist and in the 60’s and 70’s was recognised as Australia’s finest Piano Accordionist. He loves gardening and is a member of the local Garden Club.
John said he is very much looking forward to taking up the position and wanted to thank the councillors for the confidence shown in him and at all times he will be working hard for all the people in Harden Shire.
