By CASEY NEILL
CHRIS Ratcliffe had no idea he’d represent his community at the Dandenong chamber’s grand desk when he was helping to build and install the furniture.
The carpenter became a South Ward councillor in 1970 and served Dandenong South and surrounds until 1975.
“Building the place was one thing, sitting behind that table was another,” he said.
He travelled from his home in Queensland to attend the Dandenong chamber’s final formal meeting last Monday, alongside his peers from over the decades.
Council staff moved out of their Dandenong and Springvale premises and into City of Greater Dandenong’s new purpose-built hub in central Dandenong over the weekend.
“I just had to come down,” he said.
“I’m getting a bit choked, actually.”
Mr Ratcliffe recalled an elaborate stairwell dominating the building and was surprised to see it replaced with an elevator.
“There used to be all ashtrays in this room,” he laughed.
“There’s no bar now, either.”
Mayor Jim Memeti said the night marked the end of an era.
“The chamber has no doubt seen its fair share of clashes, opinions and debate,” he said.
“But it has mainly been a place where great decisions have been made and great discussions have been conducted by groups of people coming together from all backgrounds for the benefit of the Dandenong and Greater Dandenong communities.”
Cr Memeti said the site would be transformed into a civic and community hub over the next 20 years, to “bring further people, pride and respect to the area”.
He was thrilled to be opening the new civic centre today (Monday 17 March). He was mayor when the council passed the first plans for the project.
“I’m sure that when we open the doors, the community will fall in love with this building,” he said.
“It’s going to accommodate everyone in our community.”
Cr John Kelly’s son, who was just two weeks old when John first sat in the Dandenong council chamber, is now 23.
“This city has certainly come a long way from there,” Cr Kelly said.
“There’ve certainly been a lot of memories here.”
