Perth Voice Interactive

A RETIRING Vincent councillor has farewelled his term in office in an unusual manner, reading a municipal-themed adaptation of the 1989 Billy Joel hit We Didn’t Start the Fire. 

Instead of Joel’s pivotal events from the 1940s to 1980s, Cr Dan Loden’s You Can’t Stop the Progress version covered his eight years at Vincent council.

Here’s one of the five verses Cr Loden read out at his final council meeting on October 17: 

“Zero waste by ‘28, going strong, it’s not too late.

Introduced FOGO, commercial waste a no-go.

Kitchen caddy on countertops, now it’s part of standard ops.

Smaller bins are everywhere, a third the space, what a dare.

Verge valet underway, plus less waste every day.

Upcycling’s the next step, it’s tough but a good bet.

Circular economy, sounds really good to me.

Incineration no way, what more do I have to say.”

After also mentioning net zero emission targets, solar power at Beatty Park, and managing to fit in the names of every other councillor he served with, Cr Loden concluded: “After eight years, know what’s in store, and I can’t take it anymore.”

After a light applause, Cr Loden returned to prose and said “more seriously though, to my council colleagues I’m really proud of what we’ve been able to achieve these last eight years together. 

“For those of you who are hanging around, lean in to the joy of this experience, ‘cause you are here for a fleeting period of time so take the opportunity to do something with it.”

Cr Loden’s re-write is not the worst adaption of We Didn’t Start the Fire to be released in 2023. 

In July American rock band Fall Out Boy released a version covering the Millenial lifespan. Along with ignoring the original song’s masterful sequencing of events in chronological order, the band was widely criticised for rhyming “George Floyd” with “Metroid”, pairing the name of the black American man murdered by police in 2020 with the Nintendo game released in 1986. 

Also retiring at this election are mayor Emma Cole after first being elected as councillor 10 years ago, deputy mayor Susan Gontaszewski who’s served eight years as a councillor, and Ross Ioppolo who was elected in 2021 but has opted to cut his four year term and retire after two.

Cr Ioppolo’s farewell speech was less enthusiastic about his time there, as he had often butted heads with other councillors over Vincent’s finances.

“I have plenty of material for a future TV show: It’s The Office meets Parks and Recreation,” Cr Ioppolo said at his final meeting, referring to two sitcoms about dysfunctional workplaces.

He also said: “I felt incredibly humbled and honoured to represent the ratepayers and residents in the City of Vincent.

by DAVID BELL