Council veteran calls it a day

By Casey Neill
AFTER 16 years on Knox Council, Karin Orpen is calling it a day.
But she won’t disappear into a quiet life when her sixth term comes to an end.
“For some, I may become their worst nightmare,” she said.
Cr Orpen could not confirm exactly what her future holds, but will continue her advocacy work.
Municipal Association of Victoria president Dick Gross presented Cr Orpen with a 15 Years Service Award at council’s 28 October meeting.
“I think it’s probably recognition of how a councillor has to work,” she said. “You have to be dedicated and to be there a long time is a big ask.”
Cr Orpen was first elected in 1990 when her youngest daughter Molly, 19, was just 10 months old.
Prior to contesting Dobson Ward, Cr Orpen attended every council meeting for three years – bar one.
“The only night I missed was the night my third daughter was born. She had the audacity to be born on a council night,” she said.
Planning issues initially drew her to the meetings.
“But I didn’t appreciate how much council was involved in that actually affected my day-to-day living,” she said.
Cr Orpen nominated in 1990 when a councillor stepped down mid-term. “I saw who was standing and said ‘No, I’ve seen you in action and you’re not going to be my councillor’,” she said. “I think people were able to relate to me because I was them.”
Cr Orpen juggled council life with raising daughters Kate, 25, Jillian, 23, and Molly.
“You can’t be a councillor without the support base from your family,” she said.
She recalled several weeks where more than five days passed without her seeing her husband of 29 years, Bill.
“Maybe it’s been the secret to a good marriage,” she said.
Cr Orpen served as mayor in 1999/2000 and 2002/2003.
A financial planner by trade, in her first mayoral term she sent pencil sharpeners to the chief executive and directors as a message to save every possible cent.
“That year we got $3 million in savings off operations,” she said.
Cr Orpen formed the Eastern Transport Coalition, brought developers and the community together through planning committees and instigated recording community questions at meetings.
“To me, if someone gets off their couch and comes to council to ask a question, that says bucket loads,” she said.
While her list of achievements goes on, perhaps her greatest legacy is the Foothills Policy.
“We looked at it with a really fine tooth comb. We made it foolproof. That was a big coup,” she said. “It’s been a real honour and a privilege that (Dobson Ward) voters have trusted me all these years to look after their interests,” she said.