Left: Former Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith receives his honour of Patron from the current CMA chair, mayor Rick Firman OAM of Temora Shire. Right: Former Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith, Parkes Deputy Mayor Marg Applebee, and former Governor-General of Australia General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK AC (Mil) CVO MC (Ret)
Former Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith OAM has been formally recognised as the inaugural Patron of the Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) during a reception atNSW Parliament House this week.
Hosted by President of the NSW Legislative Council the Hon Ben Franklin, the eventbrought together country mayors and general managers from across regional NSW todiscuss the challenges and priorities facing rural and remote communities.
Mr Keith served as Chairman of the Country Mayors Association of NSW from 2020 to2022 and was later appointed the association’s first Immediate Past Chairman in 2022.
Mr Keith served as Mayor of Parkes Shire Council for 17 years, from July 2008 until September 2023, after previously serving 17 years as Deputy Mayor following his election to Council in 1983.
Parkes Shire Mayor Neil Westcott said “Ken Keith has dedicated decades of service to not only the Parkes Shire community, but also to regional and rural communities right across New South Wales.”
“This recognition as the inaugural Patron of the Country Mayors Association is a fitting acknowledgement of his tireless advocacy, strong leadership and unwavering commitment to ensure country communities have a strong voice at the state and national level.
“Ken has always championed the issues that matter most to regional communities – from roads, infrastructure and housing to health services, workforce shortages and disaster recovery. His leadership has helped shape important conversations and outcomes for councils across regional NSW,” Mayor Westcott said.