Nixon resigns

By Kath Gannaway
CHRISTINE Nixon stood down on Saturday from her 18-month job as chairwoman of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority.
Ms Nixon announced her resignation from what has been at times a controversial role at a meeting of more than 200 representatives of Community Recovery Committees in the Yarra Valley.
Her announcement was met by a standing ovation – a tribute from many at the heart of the bushfire experience – for the role she took on only days after the Black Saturday bushfires ripped through much of Victoria.
She said the role had been a privilege.
“I have on so many occasions been inspired and humbled by these Victorian communities, and I am looking forward to continuing my relationship and my work with them over the years to come,” she said.
She said Premier John Brumby had agreed to allow her to make the change, which included moving to a voluntary role as the Victorian Government’s Adviser on Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery.
“In my new role I intend to continue to support communities, to work with the bereaved community, and to remain a member of the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund panel,” she said.
Marysville CRC chairman Tony Thompson was at the meeting and said the announcement came as a surprise.
He said the response in the room was a genuine expression of gratitude for the job Ms Nixon had done.
“It was 200 people saying ‘thank you’ for the job she had done,” he said.
He said he believed she would be remembered in terms of her bushfire role for the personal relationships she made and the way she personalised her role.
He said others looked at her contribution differently. “The way things went (in the Royal Commission) others will maybe think about the person who unfortunately went out for dinner on that night,” he said.
He said he saw a woman who worked extremely hard, dealt with a lot of grief, had to put up with personal attacks at times, and ultimately was a good leader.
“I think she has done whatever she had to do (as a leader); stand up and take it on the chin whenever she has had to,” he said.
Former Murrindindi Council mayor Lyn Gunter, who served until last week on the Bushfire Fund Panel, said there was mixed reaction to her standing down.
“Some are saying it’s about time, others are saying we need someone there to continue through to the end of the time,” she said.
VBRRA is scheduled to wind up in February 2011.
“The query which is in people’s minds now is what happens now? How is it going to go forward?” she said.
She said she also believed Ms Nixon would be remembered paradoxically.
“I think she will be remembered well for what she did in the early days,” she said.
“People appreciated her response but I think the Royal Commission’s revelations (that Ms Nixon went out to dinner on Black Saturday evening) really upset a lot of people.
“You can do a hundred things right and one thing wrong and that’s what people will remember,” she said.