FORMER Wangaratta mayor Geoff Dinning is in the business of delivering milk across the North East, but as a civic leader he helped promote a different type of beverage.
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“When I first became mayor I would go to the restaurants and they were using wines out of the supermarket and I would ring up the local wineries, whether it was Pizzinis, Dal Zotto or whoever, and get them to drop in a couple of bottles and that helped build them up,” Mr Dinning said.
“It was the same at the council, I would make sure we had 40 or 50 bottles so if we had a visit from the premier or ministers we would be able to promote the local wine and have it on show.”
Mr Dinning is just as proud of Wangaratta as he is of its regional wines and that devotion has been recognised with an Order of Australia Medal for service to the community.
He was mayor of Wangaratta from 1997 to 2002, a board member of North East Health from 2000 to 2009 and remains an active member of the Rotary Club of Appin Park.
“It’s not expected because you do what you’ve got to do and move on,” Mr Dinning said.
“I’m happy with what I’ve achieved and don’t expect these awards.”
Mr Dinning first became involved in public service at Greta after growing up on a mixed farm in nearby Hansonville.
Having been part of a young farmers club and president of the Greta Football Club, Mr Dinning was motivated by the feeling he “could do a better job” when he stood for council.
He cited the development of the Ovens River precinct, aquatic centre and the groundwork for Wangaratta’s performing arts centre as key achievements.
Wangaratta Council is in the hands of administrators after its last councillors were dismissed by the Local Government Minister.
“I’d have to say it’s disappointing after all the hard work that’s gone into getting Wangaratta to be one of the top three councils in Victoria, but the foundations are solid and they’re starting to build on that with a new team and continue to look at economic development,” Mr Dinning said.
The Sydney Swans supporter has built up his dairy business alongside his community service.
Since beginning milk distribution in 1986, Mr Dinning has expanded his delivery network to extend from Euroa and Tocumwal to Corryong.
Each day the eight trucks of Dinning’s Kelly Country Dairy delivers thousands of litres of milk.