It is with much sadness that we announce the death of Don Chambers which occurred suddenly while he was holidaying in Rome. Don was a great lover of Perth and came west whenever he could. He maintained his MAWA membership for many years, and frequently competed in our State Championships.
Below is a dedication from his local Shire Council
Indigo Shire councillor Don Chambers has died suddenly, while holidaying in Rome, at the age of 78.
Cr Chambers was serving his fourth term on the Indigo Shire Council, having held the position of mayor in 1999 and 2000.
He has been remembered as a strong advocate for Rutherglen and the wider north-east Victorian community.
He also represented the council on a number of causes, including Keep Australia Beautiful, to which he was national chairman for 10 years.
Indigo Mayor Bernard Gaffney worked alongside Cr Chambers for many years.
He said the loss would be felt for many years to come.
“What a man. He was certainly a man of ideas, he had vision, he was so enthusiastic and he achieved so much, he was the ultimate high achiever,” he said.
“He has certainly left a mark and what more can a person do?
“He will be sadly missed. The community of Indigo Shire are grieving.”
A community forum planned for tomorrow night has been postponed as a mark of respect for Cr Chambers.
Indigo Shire’s chief executive, Gerry Smith, said Cr Chambers was passionate about a range of issues.
“Don’s energy and passion for a variety of causes were legendary,” he said.
“He was involved in a whole raft of activities outside of Indigo Shire Council and of course it wasn’t unusual to receive 20 emails from Don on a Sunday evening on a raft of different issues.”
Cr Chambers was also a life member of the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA).
VLGA president Sebastian Klein paid tribute to his service.
“Don Chambers really exemplified I think those councillors that go above and beyond the call of duty,” he said.