About 40 people attended a function during Local Government Week in Perth to award the long serving councillor the honorary freemanship.

The attendees included family members, current and past councillors and partners and several staff members who worked during Mr Della Bosca’s term.

This presentation followed an earlier Distinguished Service Award, presented to Mr Della Bosca by the Western Australia Local Government Association at the Local Government Week conference.

Westonia Shire president Louis Geier presented him with a certificate of freemanship and president’s gavel at the celebration dinner.

Westonia Shire chief executive officer Bill Price said the award was given to Mr Della Bosca in recognition of his excellent service to the Westonia council and community.

“John had been a councillor for 30 years and seven months from May 1977 to October 2007, being the third longest serving councillor,” he said.

“He was shire president for seven years, chief bush fire control officer for 25 years, fire control officer for two years, captain of the brigade for one year and lieutenant for four years.”