Today's council elections mark the end of three distinguished careers in local government for some of the Riverina's longest serving representatives.
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Wagga mayor Greg Conkey, Coolamon mayor John Seymour and Lockhart mayor Rodger Schirmer are not running for re-election and will be moving on from their respective councils.
The trio have a combined 41 years' experience as councillors and are each looking forward to some long-awaited family time.
Cr Conkey, who has served on Wagga City Council since 2012 and was elected mayor in 2016, admitted today's election was a bittersweet moment.
"It's a sad day in a lot of respects," he said. "I've been mayor for five-and-a-quarter years and I've thoroughly enjoyed that time."
"It was a little bit longer than expected but we've achieved a great deal in that time and there's a lot of projects under way at the moment. The city has an extremely bright future."
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Cr Conkey pointed towards the industrial development at Bomen as his proudest achievement due to the economic impact it has brought to the region.
"As far as the economic development of this city, to get Bomen up and running was critical in getting Wagga to where it is today."
Cr Seymour was first elected to Coolamon Shire Council in 1998 and has served as councillor for the 23 years since - including as mayor for the past nine years.
"I figured it was time to hand the reins to someone," the long-serving mayor said.
"COVID hit and it made me realise how much time I had spent and now we can go off and do things we want to do without having commitments."
He chose the numerous sporting facilities and community halls that have been established across the Coolamon Shire as his proudest achievement.
Cr Schirmer is calling to an end a nine year career with Lockhart council and a five-year term as mayor.
The outgoing mayor first ran for council to fight for more flood mitigation works between Lockhart and The Rock and was proud to say he'd accomplished his goal.
"It sounds like a cliche but it has been an honour," he said.
"I've been in a lot of organisations over the years so it'll be nice to not have to go to so many meetings."
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