ABOVE: Steve Morrissey is deputy mayor for Richmond Valley Council. Photo: Susanna Freymark
Susanna Freymark
For the fourth time, Steve Morrissey has been elected – unopposed – as deputy mayor for Richmond Valley Council.
Born and bred in Casino, Steve sees his role as supporting the mayor Robert Mustow.
At the end of this council term, he will have been a councillor for 16 years.
“I’m not overburdened with brains, but I have common sense and I give it a go,” he said.
Steve joined Facebook last year because he was going to be one of the dancers in the Casino Dancing with the Stars charity event and needed to fundraise. That event was cancelled because of covid.
His preferred communication though is face to face.
“I can’t run and hide,” he said.
“People see me at work in Woollies.”
For 17 years Steve ran a butcher shop in Hotham St so he knows a lot of people.
When he had the shop, his focus was on customer service, he said.
He takes that same attitude to his role as councillor.
“I see the ratepayer as the customer,” he said.
He encourages residents to come along to community consultations run by the council. Or he’ll arrange to meet them, take his notebook to jot down what they say and try to help them as best he can.
Steve has been married to his wife Angela for 42 years. They have three grown-up children and one grandchild. One son lives in New Zealand, another in Caboolture and his daughter lives in Bowen in Queensland.
When he was younger Steve was into junior league, cricket, swimming and he loved body surfing at Evans Head.
These days with two “buggered” knees, he spends his days off, reading council documents and he likes to mow the lawn.
And no, he doesn’t use a ride-on.
“I get great enjoyment out of mowing the lawn. I battle away (despite the knees),” he said.
When he’s done, he sits back, has a cold beer and admires his work.
and then