I distinctly remember my first meeting with the Mayor of the town I'd just moved to in regional Queensland. He shook my hand vigorously, told me a bawdy joke then gave me a hearty pat on the back before finding a seat at the event I was hosting. Slightly dazed, I asked the person next to me, "Who on earth was that?". They laughed and said "Oh, that's our Mayor." Over the years, as I got involved in local groups and moved my way up in Council, I came to know and love this guy along with the rest of the community. He was loud and boisterous for sure, but also welcoming and open to everyone. He was respected as honest, fair, a shrewd business leader and the person everyone turned to in a crisis. A tough gig, but "Maggot" Maguire made it all look so easy.
I distinctly remember my first meeting with the Mayor of the town I'd just moved to in regional Queensland. He shook my hand vigorously, told me a bawdy joke then gave me a hearty pat on the back before finding a seat at the event I was hosting. Slightly dazed, I asked the person next to me, "Who on earth was that?". They laughed and said "Oh, that's our Mayor." Over the years, as I got involved in local groups and moved my way up in Council, I came to know and love this guy along with the rest of the community. He was loud and boisterous for sure, but also welcoming and open to everyone. He was respected as honest, fair, a shrewd business leader and the person everyone turned to in a crisis. A tough gig, but "Maggot" Maguire made it all look so easy.