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TRIBUTES flowed yesterday on social media for Jeremy Ball – deputy mayor, heritage campaigner, arts lover, youth advocate and environmentalist, father and husband.
Those people who sat with him in the council chamber, met him at community gatherings, cultural events or even the market, all recalled his passion for community issues.
Alderman Ball was elected to the Launceston City Council in 2007 and became deputy mayor in 2011.
Only last week he confirmed his intention to run again for deputy mayor in the local government elections – although many touted him as a future mayor of the city, if not state politician.
Not your typical alderman, he studied at the National Institute of Dramatic Art and also held a business diploma.
Although he grew up in Launceston, he spent many years studying and working interstate and overseas. He spoke French and Japanese.
Through council but also acting independently, Alderman Ball took a keen interest in many groups and organisations.
He was an advocate for the preservation of historic buildings but also updating them for modern use – the city had to ‘‘use it, or lose it’’, he would often say.
He was involved in helping Northern suburbs groups, youth through engagement programs and indigenous concerns to ensure they were represented.
With his NIDA background, Alderman Ball was a regular at arts and cultural events, and performed in a number of local productions.
He featured in a major Hollywood blockbuster, The Matrix, and Australian television series, including A Difficult Woman and Water Rats.
Alderman Ball had been outspoken on numerous environmental issues through his life, but most notably the former Gunns pulp mill.
Although an independent he had previously run as a member of the Greens and remained friends with many, and they paid tribute to his work yesterday.
Alderman Ball was on a number of internal and external committees including the heritage advisory, North Bank, TasWater and the Tamar Region NRM group.
Alderman Danny Gibson, describing himself as the young’un on the council, said Alderman Ball acted as a mentor when he was first elected.
‘‘The one thing that stood him apart is that lots of people put their name to things but few people lead or follow issues like he did,’’ Alderman Gibson said.
Alderman Rosemary Armitage said she had great respect for Alderman Ball in the way he engaged on issues, listening to opinions even if they didn’t match his own.
She said sometimes his passion and oration even saw her change her mind on issues, so swayed was he by something he was able to encourage others to look at an issue in a different way.
Both aldermen agreed Alderman Ball had a vast knowledge of issues. Things he didn’t know about, he took the time to research before contributing to any debate.
Local Government Association of Tasmania president Barry Easther paid tribute to Alderman Ball, saying he made an enthusiastic and significant contribution to local government.
‘‘His enjoyment of it was such that he really wanted to give it his best – he was a very good strategic thinker and thought through things thoroughly,’’ Cr Easther said.
