Strelec reveals bipolar battle

The former mayor revealed yesterday she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder nearly a year ago and was writing a book about her life to help deal with her illness.

Cr Duncan-Strelec said had she made her intentions known about not standing for re-election later this year, last Monday’s marathon meeting would not have eventuated.

The meeting went beyond midnight and Cr Duncan-Strelec said events of the night were politically motivated after her attempt to have code of conduct complaints thrown out failed.

Cr Duncan-Strelec instigated the majority of the complaints against mayor Alice Glachan, deputy mayor Neville Hull and Cr Philomena Sawyer.

But only one against Cr Sawyer for calling Cr Duncan-Strelec a hypocrite in an online blog was upheld.

Cr Duncan-Strelec has spent 16 years on Albury Council and was the city’s first woman mayor in 1995.

“I have been mayor twice, I don’t have to prove anything to anyone,” she said.

“I was the first female mayor and been as high as you can get where I am.

“I thought I could keep serving the community, but not in the current environment.”

Cr Duncan-Strelec

was diagnosed as being bipolar last Easter after a succession of personal issues convinced her to seek psychiatric help.

They included the strain of running her own NSW Supreme Court case against Queensland businessman Tom Tate in 2010 and injuries suffered by her son Harry in Thailand.

She has also undergone six major operations in recent years.

Cr Duncan-Strelec has finished writing her book and plans to release it later this year.

“My psychiatrist said if there is anything good about a biploar disorder I have got it,” she said.

“Most of my problems are from depression.

“The only way to deal with it is to be honest and up front.

“It’s not only anti-depressants that I need to take, but I am also on a mood stabiliser for when I do start to get hyper.

“It has made a huge difference and it is the reason I didn’t do my block on Monday night.”

Cr Duncan-Strelec said she had no regrets about her 16 years in local government even though she regularly attracts criticism.

“I won’t back down if I believe in something,” she said.

“The highway cost me my spot on council for four years but it has turned out to be the best thing.”

She was first elected to council in 1991 and in the same year she first became mayor Cr Duncan-Strelec contested the NSW election as an independent candidate.

Her other stint as mayor was in 2006.

Cr Duncan-Strelec said some of her most enjoyable times on the council were the early years serving alongside the likes of Arch McLeish and Les Langford.

“They were gentlemen and I learned a lot about the code of meeting practice,” she said.

“It was a case of learn it or get out.

“They were absolutely brilliant teachers.

“Now I have watched it just deteriorate because there is just a lack of leadership.”