After more than 10 years in the job, Mr Preece announced he would be calling time on his involvement with council earlier this month, citing the need to wind back from full-time work. 

“Having worked in (local government) for the period of 30-odd years it's going to be hard to step away from that but that was the hard part of the decision, the easy part was that I was doing it for my health,” Mr Preece said. 

“I've got a lot of great friends, I've had great people work for me over the years and working for me here now, I'm going to miss those people, there's no doubt about that.

“I've been very fortunate that three councils have given me an opportunity to develop myself and I greatly appreciate that.”

Mr Preece’s career in local government began with Launceston City Council in 1985, where he was responsible for the outdoor construction crews.

In 1996 he oversaw a successful restructuring of the 200-strong workforce to a commercially competitive entity before taking up a role as general manager of the Dorset Council in 1999.

Mr Preece, who made the move to Meander Valley Council in 2005, said the chance to foster new talent into council had been one of the highlights of his career.

“I've always enjoyed the opportunity to bring young people into a career in local government.

“I’ve been able to help young people get started.... and I look back now and some of these young people, where they've come and what they're doing, it's very rewarding to see that happening.”

Mr Preece said while he was hoping to slip quietly out the door, he suspected his decade of service would be celebrated with some fanfare.

“My finishing date is the 5th of August so council will be considering what process they're going to take to replace me at next week's council meeting.

“I was hoping to go out fairly low-key but knowing some of my work colleagues I can't see that necessarily happening - I think they'll have something organised.”