Hundreds of items of memorabilia will go under the auctioneer’s hammer as Ipswich City Council closes another chapter on the past.
A report to council this week highlighted 755 items catalogued following the Crime and Corruption Commission investigation, Operation Windage, and the dismissal of the previous council in August 2018.
The catalogue contains items that have been retained by council via two former mayors, returned items from former councillors and items located within council facilities across a number of locations.
A number of these items may have been purchased with council funds, are owned by council or have been donated to council.
The CCC confirmed in December 2020 that council could proceed with the appropriate disposal of these items.
The report said 148 items of sporting memorabilia were alone valued at $53,985.
There were also items that had been gifted to the city or previous mayors from groups such as visiting delegations from other governments and organisations. Some would be kept by council, returned or sold at auction.
Mayor Teresa Harding said it was a chance for council – and ultimately ratepayers – to recoup some of the outlaid costs to purchase some of the memorabilia items, particularly the genuine sporting memorabilia.
“It is proposed that the net proceeds of any disposal be included in a special funding round to assist community and sporting organisations within the local government area,” Mayor Harding said.
“Any income generated should go back to the community.”
Mayor Harding said council’s community reference groups and general feedback to council indicated widespread support for the sale of these items and the money going to a good cause.
Councillors voted unanimously for this to happen in the 2021-22 financial year.
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