Webber’s cancer battle

Long-serving Waipā District councillor and former deputy mayor Grahame Webber will not stand for council next year as he battles myeloma cancer.

Grahame Webber

Grahame Webber

Webber, 73, was first elected to the council in 2001 and is two years into his seventh term. He first represented the Maungatautari ward and five years ago, after he and wife Jenny moved into town, the Cambridge ward.

He served four terms as deputy mayor before handing over to Liz Stolwyk two years ago and currently chairs the Service Delivery committee.

Webber grew up in Te Awamutu, the oldest of seven children, attended Te Awamutu College and then moved to Hora Hora 56 years ago when his parents bought a farm there. He farmed at Maungatautari for more than 30 years.

His cancer battle involves having chemotherapy every week at Waikato Hospital and regular blood tests.

Myeloma, also known as multiple myeloma or plasma cell myeloma, is a cancer of plasma cells that usually arises in the bone marrow.

Tragically Webber’s brother and sister both died in the past two years.

“I’ve got 40 weeks of chemo treatment ahead of me and I’m going to be looking after myself.”

He will be talking to people he wants to see put their hands up for council.

“Liz (Stolwyk) was a prime example. I was on a plane with her to our Bihoro our sister city in Japan when I asked her to put her name forward for the council. And look how well she is doing.”

The other person Webber says he convinced to stand in Maungatatauri, when he stood down, was Elwyn Andree-Wiltens.

“She is the best person in the job for Maungatautari,” he said.

Webber has few regrets about his time in local government and points out how well Cambridge has done.

“When I came here, Cambridge had 5500 people. I’m thrilled to bits with Cambridge now. If we (council) hadn’t done what we’ve done in the town, we wouldn’t have the people coming here now.”

The district was attracting the same sort of industry as Hamilton and with that comes jobs and economic growth, he said.

His major focus has always been on his constituents.

“I just don’t like spending a huge amount of money on things. It’s ratepayers’ money.”

 

More Recent News

Honey bees-ness tackled

Local body moves to protect residents from showers of bee poo are being given a tick of approval by Mountain View Honey’s beekeeper Lindy Bennett. Ōtorohanga District Council has included the guidance notes for beepers…

Call to stall all waste incineration

Don’t Burn Waipā spokesman Eoin Fitzpatrick wants a moratorium on waste to energy incineration pending a national analysis. Fitzpatrick made the appeal to the independent Board of Inquiry hearing Global Contracting Solutions application to build…

Ken’s celebration

A new artwork titled Ka pua, te Koowhai, designed in partnership with cancer patients, has been blessed in the radiation therapy unit of the Lomas Building at Waikato Hospital. The interactive kōwhai tree mural offers…

Maths help equals 1000

A charitable trust has hit a milestone, helping more than 1000 children from low-income families with maths. Eight years ago, Te Awamutu-based Mathematics for a Lifetime chairperson and founder Jean McKenzie recognised a need. McKenzie…