Council chief Michael Sedgman says farewell to Murray Bridge
The outgoing CEO will hand over the reins to Heather Barclay, temporarily at least, next week.
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The second-longest-serving council CEO in Murray Bridge’s history has said farewell at a nostalgia-tinged soiree at the Bridgeport Hotel.
Councillors, staff and community leaders were among the 30 or so people who attended the evening function for outgoing CEO Michael Sedgman last Wednesday.
Mayor Wayne Thorley said the district was potentially millions of dollars better off as a result of Mr Sedgman’s work.
After all, the strategic plans the council completed early in the CEO’s tenure had helped the council win grant funding for its riverfront, swimming centre, skate park, town entrances, war memorial and nursing home, among other projects.
“The council has benefited a great deal from your guidance over the last eight years,” Mr Thorley said.
“You leave some really great, significant improvements around our community.”
Former Mayor Brenton Lewis, SA Police Superintendent Scott Denny and council staff also thanked Mr Sedgman for his contributions, his focus on principles and processes, and his wry sense of humour.
The outgoing CEO thanked the council’s leadership team, his assistants Ros Kruger and Ashleigh Atze, councillors and, above all, his wife Mina for their support.
“I joined the Rural City of Murray Bridge in June 2015 because I believed I could make a difference,” he said.
“Ultimately, whether I’ve been a successful chief executive officer will be a matter of judgment by others.
“However I sincerely hope that my time here at the council … will be judged on my contribution to establishment of the foundational frameworks relating to strategy, good governance, financial sustainability, organisational culture and risk management.”
Mr Sedgman announced his departure in March.
His next role will be with the City of Adelaide.
Assets and infrastructure general manager Heather Barclay will fill in as CEO until a permanent replacement can be found.
The longest-serving council CEO in Murray Bridge’s history was Ken Coventry, who served in the role with the District Council of Mobilong, District Council of Murray Bridge and Rural City of Murray Bridge between 1974 and 1998.
Disclosure: The author attended the function as a guest of the Rural City of Murray Bridge.
