By Dominique Tassell
Ian Jackson has announced his retirement, and will officially finish up on 4 February 2022.
Ian is the longest-serving electoral officer in Queensland and has worked for three Members for Southern Downs, including current member James Lister and previous members Lawrence Springborg and the late Peter McKechnie.
Ian said the last 18 months dealing with Covid have been memorable, and “fairly full-on”.
He said trying to be the go-between constituents and the health department has been fairly stressful for the people involved, but he was very glad he could help people in some way.
Ian said locals have all been “pretty good” and he’s been very happy in his job.
“But the time has come for me to fade away over the mountain,” he joked.
He said he wishes James Lister and Lawrence Springborg all the best in their current positions.
Ian is looking forward to going home and doing a “fair bit of work” on his garden.
He’s also hoping to eventually do some travel and has set his sights on a trip to Tasmania.
Goondiwindi Council Mayor, Lawrence Springborg, said he worked with Ian Jackson for 27 years and 11 months. Or 27 years and 51 weeks to be exact. Ian was by his side through the entirety of Mr Springborg’s time as Member for Southern Downs.
He says Ian is a “consummate professional”.
Mr Springborg said Ian “was always very considerate and extraordinary diligent in his job and I’m very privileged to count Ian as a friend of mine”.
He said Ian is “a friend of many across the Southern Downs because he’s assisted so many people…in his very professional calm considerate way”.
Mr Springborg said that Ian held down the fort in the office, and gave him much-appreciated peace of mind that everything was being looked after.
“It gave me extraordinary comfort to know someone of Ian’s personality and professionalism was there to provide that support,” Mr Springborg said.
“He can go into retirement feeling very comforted that his service is not only recognised but greatly appreciated.”
Mr Springborg said Ian was “as near to perfect in the role (of electoral officer) as you can get”.
“I was privileged to work with him and I wish him all the best in his retirement.”
Current Member for Southern Downs, James Lister, said he is certainly going to miss Ian.
He said he’s been immensely privileged to have Ian’s level of experience as part of his staff.
Mr Lister said he indeed imagines that the last two years have probably been the busiest Ian has encountered, and Ian has been instrumental in helping locals navigate the border.
Ian’s help has also been invaluable, Mr Lister said, in navigating his first four years in office.
“It’s so important that you have staff around you who can lead you through what we do, and very few members of parliament inherit staff from their predecessor, let alone their predecessors’ predecessor,” he said.
“It’s enabled me to serve the community without fear or favour and with the very best possible advice.”
He said Ian has “truly earned his break”.
“I sincerely wish him well and I thank him for agreeing to stay on for my first four years as a Member of Parliament.”
