By MATT NICHOLLS
LOVE them or hate them, you couldn’t avoid politicians in Armidale in 2013.
In what was the city’s sesquicentenary year, there were significant leadership changes at all three levels of government.
It started in March, when independent state MP Richard Torbay, who had won preselection for the Nationals to take on Tony Windsor at the federal election, suddenly stood down.
It was revealed that he was at the centre of a corruption inquiry, as officers from the Independent Commission Against Corruption raided his home and office in March.
Torbay has maintained his innocence throughout the year and has yet to face an ICAC hearing.
His sudden resignation forced an early by-election for the Northern Tablelands and Adam Marshall, who won Nationals preselection in a fierce contest, took over as the state MP after a convincing win in May.
While all that was happening, former Labor minister John Watkins replaced Torbay as the chancellor of the University of New England, while Barnaby Joyce stepped up as the Nationals candidate for the September federal election.
As the countdown started to see who would lead New England in a certain Coalition government, Tony Windsor stunned everyone when he announced on 26 June that he would retire.
As expected, Joyce took out New England virtually unopposed.
At the bottom tier of government, mayor Jim Maher, who had stood as an independent in the state by-election, lost his position as the head of Armidale Dumaresq Council.
Cr Maher was replaced by Laurie Bishop, with Jenny Bailey as his deputy.
Away from politics, there were several major stories that broke in Armidale.
The multi-million dollar collapse of BuildPlan, founded by Armidale’s Bill Wheeler, shocked everyone, while the ongoing court case of a former Catholic priest charged with sex offences is still making headlines.
The first opera to be staged in Armidale, The Marriage of Figaro, proved a hit in January, while the University of New England celebrated its 75th year, as Armidale celebrates its 150th.
On the sporting fields, roller derby was played in Armidale for the first time when skaters from across NSW and Queensland participated in ThunderBout, while the Armidale Blues won the New England Rugby premiership.
In the Tamworth AFL competition, the New England Nomads reigned supreme, while Hillgrove continued its dominance in the Armidale District Cricket Association.
Impies Red defeated St Kilda Cougars in a thrilling netball grand final and Falklands beat home local favourite Brave Ali in the Armidale Cup race.
