Former Cr Bell also figured in several legal battles with former shire CEO Stan Scott after posting strident criticism of Mr Scott’s performance on Facebook.

The former CEO was later named in 14 of 23 adverse findings against the shire and its former council after the results of a year-long State Government inquiry were tabled in the WA Parliament in 2020.

Former Cr Bell gave no official reason for his January 15 departure, though there was growing speculation based on his frequent absences that he might not stay.

A discussion last year to cut the size of the council from nine to seven members was deferred pending the October 2021 poll.

The 2021 elections completed a four-year transition to allow all voters to vote for all candidates regardless of geographical area.

The reform included the introduction of postal ballots which caused a big increase in voter participation after years of low turn-outs at little-known shire polling stations.

York, Chittering, Goomalling and Victoria Plains all have seven councillors – a move favoured by the State Government.

Reducing the Toodyay Shire Council’s size to seven members would save ratepayers about $23,000 a year in councillor allowances.

It would also save a further $22,000 by avoiding a fresh council election so soon after the last poll three months ago.

A special meeting this month voted 5-1 (Cr Mick McKeown against) to seek WA Electoral Commission permission to leave the seat vacant, pending an expected Ministerial move to introduce smaller councils at the October 2023 poll.

A council of eight elected members with one vacancy still needs an absolute majority of five councillors to pass important decisions such as budgets regardless of the president’s casting (second) vote because it is still officially a nine-member council.

Her crowded evacuation ship was sunk by enemy aircraft off Indonesia’s Bangka Island and 29-year-old Alma was one of 22 Australian nurses who were able to reach the shore in a lifeboat.

They started treating wounded survivors on the beach when they were captured by Japanese soldiers who ordered them back into the water where they were machine gunned in the shallows.

Only one nurse, Sister Vivian Bullwinkle, survived and, after spending more than three years in Japanese prison camps, she wrote to Alma’s parents to tell them what happened to their daughter.

She said Alma was the last in a line of nurses in the water to be shot.

Her last words were: “Bully, there are two things in my life I’ve always hated – the Japanese and the sea – and today I have ended up with both of them.”

“Her brave conduct in an hour of crisis has added lustre to the service which she so nobly carried on,” Sister Bullwinkle wrote.

Local historian David Sims suggested an outdoor memorial to honour Alma’s heroism after seeing a wall display about her war service in the medical centre waiting room.

Toodyay RSL affiliate member Colin Bird led the project which, after being unable to get Federal Department of Veterans’ Affairs funding, attracted a local benefactor who donated $2000.

Another $500 was donated by Newcastle Gaol Museum volunteers and, with work in kind and materials donated by trade suppliers and other donors, the $5000 project was finalised.

A Perth firm was commissioned to cut a life-sized metal silhouette of a nurse to stand in a setting of Toodyay stone and brickwork with a commemorative plaque.

The memorial will be unveiled in a public ceremony at the Alma Beard Medical Centre at 2pm on Wednesday February 16 – the 80th anniversary of Alma’s death.

Local RSL organisers plan to follow the unveiling with afternoon tea next door at the Toodyay Club, depending on State Covid-19 requirements.

“The shire’s commitment to improve its procedures throughout this difficult process is commendable,” she said.

A formal inquiry into the shire and its culture was ordered by Ms Chopping’s predecessor, former director general Duncan Ord, after official departmental criticism of the former CEO’s performance and lack of understanding of legal matters.

His refusal to inform the council of the criticism was followed by a weekend email attack on former Cr Di Granger, prompting her resignation only four months after she defeated former shire leader David Dow by an absolute majority in the 2017 elections.

Last year’s inquiry report to State Parliament recommended that Toodyay’s new civic leaders adopt a “review action plan” to address the adverse findings.

The plan was completed last August after a review by former City of Perth Commissioner Andrew Hammond.

It was approved by the department in October and requires ongoing meetings between the shire and senior departmental officers, starting this month.

The shire plan to address the inquiry’s adverse findings includes departmental-approved councillor training in:

• meeting procedures,

• dealing with conflict,

• CEO performance appraisals,

• financial management,

• local government procurement, and

• accountability

A letter tabled at last month’s council meeting showed that most of Toodyay’s nine councillors have attended most of the courses, which were completed in October.

Four councillors – Shire President Rosemary Madacsi, Deputy President Beth Ruthven and Crs Phil Hart and Susan Pearce – attended all of the courses.

Cr Mick McKeown attended two courses – CEO performance appraisals and financial management – and was listed as an apology for two more.

Cr Ben Bell was the only currently sitting councillor who did not attend any courses.

He was reported as being granted a leave of absence for two of the courses and listed as an apology for a third.

It is understood business travel commitments outside WA and Covid-19 quarantine restrictions prevented Cr Bell from attending the recommended training.

New Crs Danielle Wrench, Charmeine Duri and Steve McCormick were elected two months ago and are yet to undertake similar local government training.

State Local Government Executive Director Tim Fraser wrote to the shire last month that “it is encouraging that most councillors participated in the training offered”.

He said it “will hopefully lead to improved governance”.

“The newly elected members may also provide a fresh start for the council in moving forward,” Mr Fraser said.

In a separate file note, Mr Fraser wrote that legal advice sought by the shire was protected by legal and professional privilege.

“As such, it is not normally released publicly,” he said.

“Councils need to be able to seek legal advice to assist them to make decisions and that such advice is provided on the basis of legal professional privilege.”

Mr Fraser invited Shire CEO Suzie Haslehurst to “share this advice publicly”.