However, after a 2016 which could only be described as his annus horribilis, the sheen which supposedly surrounded the Premier had clearly rubbed off.

While many in the Liberal Party were singing his praises after his resignation on Thursday, it was clear the events of the last 12 months had taken a heavy toll on the Premier aside from some noted family health concerns.

As Premier, Mike Baird mostly looked confident, assured and strong.

Except, most notably, in October last year when he was forced into announcing a backdown on banning the greyhound industry. Then, Premier Baird, looked shaken, tired and war-weary.

‘’I got it wrong, we got it wrong, the cabinet got it wrong and the government got it wrong,’’ Premier Baird said at the time.

Political pressure from outside and within his own party ranks made him back away from his beliefs, something he rarely did.

His decision to merge councils was unpopular in many circles and subject to legal challenges.

Many of those legal challenges remain ongoing including the Wollongong and Shellharbour council merger.

On the positive side Premier Baird was renowned as someone who stuck to his guns, but on the negative side he became known as someone who wouldn’t listen. Over the past 12 months the Illawarra Mercury has been critical of Premier Baird.

While many in the Sydney media were swept away by his last budget, we labelled it as Sydney-centric and criticised its lack of vision for this region.

We ran a front page reading “The Cupboard Was Baird” in a reference to Mother Hubbard.

It’s far to say the Premier and the Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra Gareth Ward were less than pleased.

They were even less pleased when the State Opposition pulled out copies of the front page and brandished it to the Premier as he stood to address State Parliament in his budget address.

In his term as Premier, Mike Baird was a rare visitor to the Illawarra despite Wollongong being the third largest city in NSW. 

It is hoped, with Gladys Berejiklian the frontrunner for the Premier’s job, that may change.

There is no doubt this region gets good service from Gareth Ward and even the wags at Sportsbet recognised that.

“As good a job as @garethjward is doing in his electorate, he’s more of a chance to captain the #Kiama Knights than the state,” the Sportsbet wags noted.

That’s a compliment … we think.