OUR congratulations must go to retiring Nationals MP Bill Sykes who wound up 12 years in the Victorian Parliament this week with a valedictory speech that included boxing champion Jeff Fenech’s catchcry “I love youse all”.
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Dr Sykes, the former country veterinarian and VFL footballer who played 48 games for Fitzroy before coaching Shepparton, Benalla and Benalla and District junior football teams, sat for the final time this week in the Legislative Assembly ahead of next month’s election.
Leading the highlights of his political career, he cited winning the fight with “ordinary people” against the construction of the north-south water pipeline.
But at the other end of the spectrum, Dr Sykes expressed his disappointment at not being able to save Lake Mokoan from being drained and turned into the Winton Wetlands.
Among his achievements, he singled out the opportunity to make available funds for local communities via the government’s $1 billion Regional Growth Fund and the provision of money for recovery works in response to damage caused by bushfires and floods.
Dr Sykes’ experience will be missed on committees he has been part of and by constituents who sought his help.
