NORTH PERTH – When contemplating just how large an impact Meredith “Mert” Schneider had on his community throughout his long life, one simply has to look at the turnout for a tribute parade arranged in his honour on June 17.
Five days after his passing at the age of 75, the Palmerston Agricultural Society organized the tribute in appreciation of all the former society president, North Perth councillor and Perth County warden did for his constituents, neighbours and friends as one of Wallace Township’s most passionate civic representatives.
Nearly 100 vehicles of all types – trucks, cars, municipal vehicles and of course, tractors – filed past the Schneider family farm on Road 157 just south of Palmerston to pay their final respects to a man who spent much of his life giving back to the community.
“With the COVID restrictions, the church would have been full had it been a normal year,” commented Palmerston Agricultural Society director Susan Yungblut.
“He was just so well respected, well known, and was very involved. It was just something we could do to show respect to him and his family.”
Yungblut said the tribute came together quickly, and the response from well-wishers was enormous. The tribute parade began at the Palmerston and District Community Centre, made its way down Road 157 and past a gathering of the Schneider family before ending at Line 90.
“This meant everything to us,” said Paul Schneider, Mert and Nancy’s second youngest child, following the tribute.
“I’m not sure how to put it into words. It meant a lot, absolutely.
“To see how much of the community came out for him.”
Schneider was one of the area’s longest-tenured municipal politicians, having served as a Wallace Township (Ward) councillor for close to four decades. He was first elected to office as a councillor in 1980.
He was also a member of Perth County council for 18 of those years, with two spent as warden, beginning in 2016.
Schneider also served as deputy reeve and reeve of Wallace Township for 10 years prior to North Perth’s amalgamation in 1998.
“He was just such an advocate for Wallace Township,” added Yungblut. “When the amalgamation happened, he made it his journey that we were all well represented. He was a go-to person.
“It was all for his love of the community, and he was a worker for the community.”