John Stafford puts on his shirt and jeans before going out to feed his dingoes but just a few hours later he'll be in suit and tie, running a council meeting.
Key points:
- John Stafford started a wildlife park in rural NSW after retiring as a newspaper executive
- The park has become a popular visitor attraction, showcasing native animals and more than 100 bird species
- Elected to his local council in 2016, he became mayor in 2019
After retiring to a quiet life in rural NSW, little did he imagine how his idea to open a wildlife park would be the catalyst to becoming mayor of his local council.
"It's not something I ever planned to do and I never ran a campaign to become mayor," Mr Stafford said.
But, as the opportunities arose, the former city newspaper executive's ability to work with people — and animals — proved to be the turning point.
ABC News: Hugh Hogan
)Newspaper boss to zookeeper
Mr Stafford worked for decades in the media industry, in Sydney and in Melbourne, before retiring as the Fairfax NSW general manager.
A love of birds saw Mr Stafford and his wife move to a 10-hectare property at Taralga on the NSW Southern Tablelands.
It was then they saw the potential for turning their passion into a business opportunity.
"But it takes years to build the structures, get the animals, and get the licensing required to operate a zoo."
"We started out with budgerigars and grass parrots, and now we have more than 500 birds, including a hundred different species.
ABC News: Hugh Hogan
)The Stafford's then introduced animals to the Taralga Wildlife Park as a way to attract more visitors.
"Initially we had some llamas and miniature ponies, but as interest grew we had the opportunity to bring in native kangaroos, wallabies and dingoes."
"A lot of motivation to get the 50 licenses we need to run a wildlife park was to keep species that I like and the average person can't keep."
John typically works seven days a week, starting work at six each morning to feed the animals and prepare the park to open.
While he usually doesn't finish work until the evening, he doesn't complain.
"Dealing with animals, and seeing how much enjoyment people have with them is something we pride ourselves on."
"We have to work but it's work we love."
ABC News: Hugh Hogan
)The unexpected mayor
During the lengthy, and at times frustrating, process of acquiring the licenses required to operate the park, a couple of people suggested to John Stafford he run for the local council.
"At first I thought, it's not just me," said Mr Stafford.
"As time went on it became apparent no one else in the Taralga community would be standing, so with ten minutes before nominations closed, I put my name forward."
He was elected in 2016 on the Upper Lachlan Shire Council and served for two years before his fellow councillors voted him as mayor.
ABC News: Hugh Hogan
)The Upper Lachlan Shire covers an area of 7,500 square kilometres and has 7,500 ratepayers.
It includes the communities of Crookwell, Laggan and Taralga, as well as the popular Wombeyan Caves.
"We have 2,000 kilometres of roads to manage and the financial demands are great," Mr Stafford said. "We have a lot of villages, all independent in their own right, all with different needs and, if we didn't get government support, we'd be in all sorts of trouble."
Despite the experience of being mayor, Mr Stafford, 69, didn't see a long-term future in politics.
ABC News: Hugh Hogan
)Managing two time-consuming jobs
Running a zoo and a community takes up the majority of Mr Stafford's time.
However, he said, his life in the media had prepared him for long hours.
"Big days have never been unusual for me. When I worked in Sydney, we lived in Bowral and used to commute into Sussex Street every day," Mr Staff said.
He shares the workload of the wildlife park with his wife, Tracey Avery, who he met when hiring her for a job at Fairfax.
"She puts in a lot of long hours and has a work ethic that is probably even greater than mine," he said.
"That allows me to put the council and community first at the moment ... I put my hand up to be Mayor, so I have to meet the needs of the people."
ABC News: Hugh Hogan
)As for the similarities of running a zoo and running a community, Mr Stafford said it was about care and consideration.
While his retirement hadn't quite gone as expected, Mr Stafford said he wouldn't change a thing.
"I love the animals, I love the park, but working on council has been great."
News executive John Stafford retires, opens zoo then becomes local mayor - ABC News
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