Shire President 1963 - 1987
Donald Richard Gilbert White was born December 1925 in Guyra, NSW. He married Mabel Elizabeth Vincent in 1948 in Armidale, NSW.
Donald Richard Gilbert White is known as Gilbert. As a young man, Gilbert worked on his father's properties "Box Point" and "Highlands". He joined the Air Cadets, but failed the medical for the RAAF. In 1948, he bought the property "Brentwood" and more adjoining country, selling out in 1952. Later this property was sold to the Governor General, Lord De Lisle. Gilbert purchased "Sunnyside" at Black Mountain in 1953, later purchasing "Rose Valley" and "Nordern" and he successfully bred cattle and sheep stud.
In 1960, Gilbert was elected to the Guyra Shire Council and elected President from 1962 to 1987. He was elected Delegate to North West Electricity Council in Inverell in 1968 and elected Chairman from 1973 to 1987. Gilbert was a Government appointee to Armidale College of Advanced Education (ACAE) from 1973 to 1989 and on retirement in 1989 was admitted as an Associate of the ACAE. Gilbert was awarded the Queen's medal in 1977, the Order of Australia Medal in 1980, was made an honorary Rotarian and received the Quota International Award for Service to the Shire in 1983 and Citizen of the Year in 1984.
When he retired in 1987, Gilbert received Certificates from the Local Government Electricity Association for 19 years service and from the Shires Association for 27 years service.
Gilbert and Mabel celebrated their 45th Wedding Anniversary on 31st July 2008. Sadly, Mable passed away in November 2011. Gilbert resides in Armidale.
Gilbert and Mabel had 5 children, 11 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren. His children are Shirley Moore, Maree Hazzard, James White, Jennifer Mitchell and Graham White.