THE retiring member for Albury has revealed muscular problems that left him unable to stand upright were the health concerns that prompted his exit from politics.
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In an interview with The Border Mail to mark his retirement from politics, Greg Aplin elaborated on the health issue he cited last August as a factor in leaving.
"(I had) a pain that would not go away for three months and I consulted doctors about it and ended up going to hospital on one occasion over a weekend, because I was seriously worried that it might be an indication of something greater," Mr Aplin said.
"Fortunately they traced it to a muscular issue, which they said would take some months to dissipate and that's when I decided 'right, it's time to think of someone younger coming into the role'."
Mr Aplin, who will officially end his term on Saturday with the NSW election, said constituents would rightly believe they were voting for him to be there another four years if he stood again.
"I would be over 70 by the next election and that was on my mind, plus the fact we have grandchildren here and family is important," he said.
Mr Aplin said the back and shoulder soreness emerged in the middle of last year.
"I was in considerable pain for some time, I found it very difficult," he said.
"I had to cancel a couple of functions because I just could not stand up straight."
Mr Aplin also told of now Labor candidate for Albury Lauriston Muirhead speaking to him about standing in the seat as an independent.
Mr Muirhead confirmed the approach, saying he knew Mr Aplin through living in the same neighbourhood.
"I suppose my heart was either Labor or as an independent and I didn't know whether Labor would be able to live with me, so I had a chat with Greg about what the mechanics are," Mr Muirhead said.
He opted to represent the left-wing party due to the "enormous amount of work NSW Labor has promised to do on climate change".
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Mr Aplin said he first came to know Justin Clancy, his successor as Liberal candidate for Albury, through being in the same Rotary Club and working with the Steamers rugby organisation.
"He's very much a man that is connected to the region at both the rural and the urban levels," Mr Aplin noting Mr Clancy lived at Bowna but worked in East Albury.
The election overall is tipped to be tight with Premier Gladys Berejiklian in a close race with Opposition leader Michael Daley.
Mr Aplin suggested the impact of the unpopular federal Coalition government and frustration in Sydney with waiting for new road and transport projects to be complete had contributed to the tightness.
