By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Shocked Greater Dandenong councillors paid emotional tributes to their colleague Roz Blades, who suddenly resigned as mayor and councillor on 14 October.
Some fought back tears, others expressed shock as they described Ms Blades as a mentor and a friend during a council meeting that same day.
Councillors referred to her health battles, while admiring her passionate service for the cities of Springvale and Greater Dandenong for the past 32 years.
At the meeting, councillor Youhorn Chea was elected unopposed by councillors to assume the mayoralty until 14 November.
Cr Chea paid tribute to his “close friend” who supported “all of the residents of Noble Park” .
“We can call her Mrs Noble Park … because everyone in Noble Park knows Roz.”
Ms Blades was a loyal volunteer at the charity Springvale Benevolent Society, a strong supporter of refugees and a past president of the former Springvale Community Aid and Advice Bureau, Cr Chea noted.
Cr Matthew Kirwan said it was a “big decision” for Ms Blades to make after an “illustrious local government career”.
“She shaped this municipality for the better in many, many ways.”
He acknowleged Ms Blade’s “sense of social justice and concern for the underprivileged”.
She initiated a multi-council campaign for asylum seekers in Greater Dandenong in 2014 and championed for social housing in her latest term as mayor, he noted.
“One of the reasons for us having such a generous community funding program, have been active in public transport advocacy, have such support for multiculturalism is because of Roz.”
Cr Jim Memeti said Ms Blades had been “advocating for her community in Noble Park” since settling there in 1971.
Her passions included to help the needy, to advocate for better public-transport bus services and to forge ties between schools in Greater Dandenong and its Chinese sister city Xuzhou, he said.
Ms Blades didn’t chase awards but was “touched” by her Member of the Order Australia (AM) recognition in 2014 for her vast community service.
Cr Zaynoun Melham said Ms Blades was a “friend to many in the community”. He’d known her since she served on Springvale Council with his father Naim Melham 25 years ago.
“She was a passionate advocate for this community. She didn’t care who you were, what you did, your political allegiance.
“She just loved her community.”
Cr Tim Dark said Cr Blades was the only candidate at the last election who spoke to him about Noble Park and its challenges.
“She was absolutely without a doubt a tireless champion for Paperbark Ward.”
Cr Sophie Tan said she was in “shock” by the decision of her “main mentor”.
Cr Maria Sampey wished Ms Blades a “speedy recovery.
“If she needs any support she only needs to ask me.”
In a statement, Ms Blades said she resigned “in the best interests of our city as I am not able to perform to the best of my ability and to the level which the council and its constituents should expect”.
“Greater Dandenong is a great city and a great Council and I am proud of what we have been able to achieve for the most multicultural city in Australia.”
An election countback will be conducted to fill Cr Blades’s vacancy in Paperbark Ward.
