February 10, 2014
Cherbourg councillor Bert Button, who died of cancer on Sunday morning, is being remembered as a man who served the local council for more than 20 years and always had the best interests of the town of Cherbourg at heart.
Cr Button served multiple terms on the local council over many years, including a period as Chairman.
His latest term began just last November when he was elected to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Cr Duncan Cobbo.
“Bert was instrumental in gaining a lot of funding for Cherbourg over the years for housing, council services and sporting groups,” Cherbourg CEO Warren Collins said today.
“In his many years with ATSIC, he always had Cherbourg at heart.”
During his career, Mr Button served as chairman of the Goolburri Regional Council of ATSIC, was president of the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Legal Services Secretariat (QAILLS), and held senior roles at the Queensland Federation of Land Councils.
The funeral for the Wakka Wakka elder will be held on Monday, February 17, at the Jack O’Chin Oval.
The service will commence at 11:00am.
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The death of Cr Button will necessitate a by-election at Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council. Mr Collins said the details of this would be organised over the next few weeks.
[UPDATED. An earlier version stated the memorial service would be held at the Community Hall]
