Mr Kerin, who has been Liberal Member for Frome for 15 years, is regarded by many voters as a “mate” in the

political system and will be sadly missed.

His retirement will cause a by-election in the seat,

possibly on December 13.

Mr Kerin, of Crystal Brook, would otherwise have continued as the wide-ranging region’s representative in State Parliament until 2010.

The former Premier and Opposition leader thanked voters for the “opportunities they have given me”.

Police officer Terry Boylan, of the Liberal Party, and postal officer John Rohde, for Labor, are seeking to take the seat at the by-election.

Mr Kerin said he felt “burnt out” and, if he had continued, would have been holding on to simply save a by-election.

“I thank the people of Frome and the Liberal Party for the opportunities they have given me,” he said.

He said he was reluctant to enter politics at first and it was only because of the support of his family that he agreed to stand.

Mr Kerin became the member in 1993 when the electorate was re-established after being abolished in 1977.

He was then appointed as deputy leader of the party in 1998 and upon the resignation of Premier John Olsen, became Premier until losing to Labor’s Mike Rann in 2002.

He now hopes life will settle down and is “looking forward to challenges outside the political arena”.

Liberal contender Mr Boylan said the “by-election will offer a clear message to the government that the people of Frome do not trust them, especially in country health”.

“There is an opportunity to hold the by-election on December 13 and I hope the government will allow this to happen so the new member can start fresh in the New Year,” he said.

Mr Boylan is excited for the challenges that are ahead for him and the sudden announcement has meant his “reasonably thought out plan” has “gone out of the window”.

The Labor candidate, John Rohde, said the party was looking at where it stood in the electorate and what needed to be done.