Peter Walker, a farmer in Yass and campaign director for Katrina Hodgkinson in the early–mid 2000s, has paid tribute to Ms Hodgkinson after her resignation announcement on Monday, July 31.
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Mr Walker is also her second cousin. He said “she was the most effective politician in opposition and in government”.
“She and I worked on a number of farming issues, including the OJD (Ovine Johne's disease) vaccine release in 2002. It was a contentious issue with two inquiries,” he said.
Mr Walker said her decision to vote against the State Government's greyhound-racing ban was “a brave and courageous move”.
Ms Hodgkinson won the seat of Burrinjuck in 1999, then again during the next three elections, as well as the newly formed seat of Cootamundra in 2015.
Nathan Furry, Nationals Party member and Yass Valley councillor, thanked Ms Hodgkinson for her support.
“Katrina was always welcoming, even from first meeting in 2012. I know her quite well during my time as a member of YMCA youth parliament,” Cr Furry said.
In her announcement, Ms Hodgkinson said she had “made the very difficult decision to retire” after nearly 19 years of representing the Burrinjuck and Cootamundra electorates.
She said it had been a privilege to have served constituents from right across Southern NSW, including her hometown of Yass.
“I will forever be grateful for the support afforded to me by constituents and grass-roots members of The Nationals since first running for office in 1996,” she said.
Ms Hodgkinson grew up and was educated in Yass. She and her mother, Rosemary, ran The Sheep’s Back clothing store that was on Comur Street. Her father, David, was a local councillor and served as vice- president of the NSW Farmers’ Association in the early 1990s.
During her career in State Parliament, she served four years in the NSW Cabinet as the Minister for Small Business and as the first female Minister for Primary Industries.
Ms Hodgkinson also served as Assistant Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Parliamentary Secretary for Southern NSW and committee chairman, and eight years in the Shadow Cabinet.
Ms Hodgkinson thanked her husband, Jack, for his support and her children, Georgia and Hamilton, who she said had only ever known her as an “MP Mum”.
Ms Hodgkinson said she looked forward to spending more time with her family and engaging in opportunities that might arise in the corporate sector.
