After 15 years of efforts to improve the Mandurah community, councillor Darren Lee has called it a day.
Mr Lee was elected in 2005 and leaves behind him a long legacy of achievements, including spearheading the push for the state-of-the-art Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre.
He holds the record as Mandurah's longest-serving deputy mayor having spent 10 years in the role, and his commitment to his East Ward has been second to none.
The call to leave the council and embark on a new journey was tough one for the longtime public servant, but Mr Lee said he was looking to the future with optimism.
"This decision was not taken lightly and many considerations I went through, but I need to consider what's best for me," he wrote on his Facebook page.
"After serving the community for almost 16 years and 10 years as the deputy mayor, I need to focus on me.
"I believe that I have put my heart into the role as a representative of this great City.
"I have formed many friends and met many people in my time, that contribute so much to Mandurah.
"I wish the City of Mandurah all the best and hope that the decisions you make today, make Mandurah a greater place that we all can be proud of."
Mandurah mayor Rhys Williams paid tribute to his outgoing councillor, thanking him for his service.
"I thank you for serving this council for the amount of time that you've had," he said at a council meeting in November.
"I just want to say that knowing you I know it would've been a difficult decision for you to make. I know how much you love this place and I know how much you take of serving this place so seriously.
"I want to acknowledge what I'm sure was a very difficult decision. You put the ratepayers before anyone else so I can only thank you for that."
Mr Lee now plans on spending time in Queensland and the Northern Territory, but our city won't ever be far from his mind.
"Mandurah is always in my heart,"