Ronnie Bowen Hangs Up His Gumboots After 16 Years of Service

Published on 09 October 2026

A barbecue was held at the Hope Vale Water Treatment Plant on 9 October 2026 to celebrate the retirement of Ronnie Bowen after 16 years of dedicated service with Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council.

The occasion was both a celebration and a farewell, with attendees including Mayor Bruce Gibson, Deputy Mayor Barry Bowen, members of Ronnie’s family, CEO Lew Rojahn, past and present Essential Services staff, Council employees, and contractors.

Mayor Bruce Gibson presented Ronnie with a Certificate of Appreciation and a G-Shock Mudmaster watch in recognition of his long and valued contribution to the Council’s Essential Services Team. In his address, Mayor Gibson acknowledged Ronnie’s important role in the operation and maintenance of the community’s water and sewer infrastructure.

“People often take a reliable water supply for granted because every time they turn on the tap, water comes out,” Mayor Gibson said. “Yet behind that simple action is a team of dedicated workers whose efforts ensure the system continues to operate safely and efficiently.”

He noted that the City of London had once estimated that a chain of 72 people contributes to delivering water from source to tap, highlighting the significance of roles such as Ronnie’s in maintaining essential services.

Accepting his certificate and gift, Ronnie reflected on his 16 years with Council.

“The best thing about working for Council for the last 16 years was working with a good team of blokes,” he said. “That made coming to work easy.”

Ronnie paid special tribute to colleagues who had supported him throughout his career.

“To Reggie Gilmartin, thank you for your support and guidance over the years,” he said.

Addressing Tom Jones, Ronnie added: “Thank you, Tom, for your knowledge, wisdom, advice and the direction you brought to our team. That is something I will take with me.”

In closing, Ronnie expressed his gratitude to Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council for the opportunities provided to him and his family.

“I thank Council for the employment,” he said. “This opportunity improved my family’s living standards and made me proud to serve my people, my community and my traditional land, this Bubu. I walk away with a sense of satisfaction for the 16 years I have committed. Thank you all for this acknowledgement.”

Ronnie’s retirement marks the end of a distinguished career dedicated to supporting essential services and the wellbeing of the Hope Vale community. Council extends its sincere thanks for his years of service and wishes him and his family all the very best for the future.