TOWN of Cambridge deputy mayor Pauline O’Connor declared names on commemorative plaques “utterly pompous”.
Councillor Andres Timmermanis moved a motion at the Council’s August meeting for the Town to prepare a policy about commemorative plaques affixed to its facilities, in what could have been a WA first for a local government.
The policy would have specified whose names would appear on a plaque, including Mayor, senior State and/or Federal politicians present at an opening and the architect or builder where appropriate.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWCouncillors debated for and against a policy, with councillor Louis Carr speaking in favour of one, sharing an anecdote about his grandfather and former Labor Education Minister who helped build high schools in Perth.
“He said people don’t say anything nice about you when you are alive, only when you are dead,” he said.
Cr Rod Bradley said plaques offered history and context to the building they were attached to.
Cr O’Connor was against the motion.
“I think names on plaques are totally, utterly pompous,” she said.
The motion was lost.