Mayor of Coffs Harbour

The Coffs Coast is a place very close to my heart, one in which my children grew up, I want to

see it grow and thrive for the children of the future.
I have lived in Sawtell with my husband Christopher for the past 32 years and am the mother of three children - Katherine, David and Amy - and the proud grandmother of two fantastic grandchildren. 

I am a Registered Nurse by profession and have worked both in the Emergency Department of  the Coffs Harbour Health Campus and, more recently, at Baringa Hospital.  
I am actively involved in current health issues, local theatre and many fund-raisers for the community.  You might say I am a bit of an all-rounder as I’m  interested in sport and promoting tourism in this wonderful area.  I work for the community by providing a different dimension to Council.

During my term, Council has achieved many of mine and the community’s  goals.  These include building a long-awaited state-of-the-art skate park, a revitalised boat ramp and a popular coastal walk. The transformation of the Jetty Foreshores is well underway while renewal of the  City Centre has begun, as well as many other projects of which I am passionate.  I am still working towards getting an entertainment centre up and running, which I hope will including a new library and art gallery.

The City of Coffs Harbour (Also known as Coffs Harbour City Council) is a local government area in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. The area under administration is 1,175 square kilometres (454 sq mi), expanded in 2004 to take in parts of the former Pristine Waters local government area.

The administrative seat is located in Coffs Harbour; and the area is adjacent to the Pacific Highway, and the North Coast railway line.

The Mayor of the City of Coffs Harbour is Denise Knight, an independent politician.

Mayor of Wagga Wagga

CHANGE to Wagga City Council's leadership team was touted in the lead-up and delivered on Monday night.

Councillor Dallas Tout was elected deputy mayor unopposed at the council meeting, replacing Councillor Andrew Negline.

Mayor Rod Kendall withstood a challenge from Councillor Paul Funnell to retain his position at the helm for another 12 months.

Councillor Kendall won 6-4 in an open vote, with Cr Funnell backed by himself and councillors Negline, Yvonne Braid and Kerry Pascoe.

Councillor Julian McLaren was absent for the vote.

Moments after his victory, Cr Tout stressed leadership sat with the entire council, not the two individuals elected to lead them.

"To me the deputy mayor position, and the mayoral position in some ways, is more a representation than a leadership," Cr Tout told The Daily Advertiser on Monday night.

"People call them leadership positions, (but) I don't really do that.

"To me, the leadership still sits within the core group of 11 councillors."

Cr Tout, who works as a finance manager at Charles Sturt University, said the role was another step towards "correctly representing the feelings and the thoughts of the other councillors" regardless of the forum.

Having spent three terms on Gundagai Shire Council (GSC) - including time as deputy mayor - Cr Tout said he would use the relationships he has already forged with other councils to the city's advantage.

"With the local government review going on now, and what's going to happen there, part of that representation is all about relationships," he said.

"I think those kind of networks (developed with GSC) are going to help us moving forward in what's going to be very turbulent times in the next 12 months in local government regionally and across the state."

Cr Tout's wife, Janine, was surprised he was elected unopposed, but said he was driven when it came to local government.

Mayor of Hervey Bay

Mayor Chris Loft

Phone: 0418 227 142
Email: chris.loft@frasercoast.qld.gov.au

A Fraser Coast resident for more than 30 years, I have had experience as a small business consultant and accountant, and owned several businesses during that time.

I am excited at the potential for the Fraser Coast.  We are fortunate to have such diversity across our region and I am passionate about promoting an inclusive community which inspires confidence and boosts our local economy.

It is my goal over the next four years to build a better Council and look forward to working with the community to achieve our potential.

Mayor of Shepparton-Mooroopna

I am a long term resident and business owner, with a passion for the region and a commitment to make a meaningful contribution.

Cr Dennis Patterson
Cr Dennis Patterson
I am a team player with a community focus. I want to see Greater Shepparton become a regional powerhouse of country Victoria. I recognise that Greater Shepparton has a lot of good things to offer, such as our strong community, and our natural environment.

Committee appointments

Greater Shepparton Aerodrome Advisory Committee
Murray Darling Association
RiverConnect Community Advisory Committee
Shepparton Liquor Licensing Accord
Shepparton Showgrounds Advisory Committee
Tatura Park Advisory Board
Contact details

Phone: 0427 935 282
Email: dennis.patterson@shepparton.vic.gov.au

Mayor of Gladstone-Tannum Sands

Today I announce my intention to nominate for the position of Mayor of the Gladstone Regional Council at the Local Government election on 19th March 2016.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my role of Deputy Mayor, but a cross section of the community is asking me to step up and nominate for Mayor.

I believe after almost sixteen years' experience in Local Government, five of those years serving as Deputy Mayor, it's time.

My campaign will be based on the issues that many residents have raised with me.

I won't be campaigning as part of any team, but if elected as Mayor, I will closely and co-operatively work with all Councillors as chosen by the people.

During my time as Councillor and Deputy Mayor, I have always had the best interests of the community at heart, and that will continue should I be elected Mayor of the Gladstone Regional Council.

Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett.
Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett.
Brenda Strong
I have been fortunate to have learnt much from the three Mayors with whom I have worked since my election to Council in 2000, and each of them has impacted on my goals for the region in some way.

However, I pledge to provide the Gladstone Region with the change of leadership many residents are now seeking.

Over recent times I have had many pass the comment to me that as a Council we should be doing better.

Those comments have been part of my decision to run for the position of Mayor, and I give my assurance that I am dedicated and determined to deliver for the whole of the Gladstone Region.

Before making my final decision, I sought advice from several long term local identities from every area of the Region.

Each of those people has closely watched the changes in the Region and I greatly value every helpful view and opinion.

I believe the people are best served by all candidates showing respect and value for each other's skills, knowledge and beliefs, and that's what my campaign will reflect.

I have never, and will never participate in a negative, nasty campaign.

Regardless of what may be thrown at me I will remain positive and focussed on my priority goal, which is always striving to better the Gladstone Region.

Mayor of Port Macquarie

Peter Edward Besseling (born 8 March 1970) is an Australian politician. Besseling is

the Mayor of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, elected on 8 September 2012, as an independent candidate.Besseling served as Member for Port Macquarie between 2008 and 2011.

Prior to entering politics, he was a professional rugby union player.

As one of four children, Peter grew up with his family on a property north-west of Sydney along the Hawkesbury River.  His early working days were with an equipment rental company, moving from equipment service to management.

An introduction to rugby union led him to train with Sydney University, and a debut in First Grade that same year for the club.

In 1995, Peter and his wife Meaghan, moved west of Wauchope to Byabarra, in order to start a family and run a wholesale palm business.  A year later, rugby union turned professional and Peter took up a contract offer with the Brumbies in Canberra.

Having moved back to the Mid North Coast following the birth of his daughter, Peter assisted his rugby teammate Rob Oakeshott in his successful campaign to become the NSW Member for Port Macquarie, before again being lured south to run the Development Program for rugby union in Western Sydney, managing five development officers and playing for Penrith.

In 1999 and as captain of the Penrith team, Peter was selected for both NSW and for Australia A and capped off a wonderful year by winning the Ken Catchpole Medal for best Sydney premiership player. The following year, he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his services to rugby for his work with rugby development.

In 2001, Peter accepted a contract with IBM Japan and moved with his family to Chiba, just outside Tokyo, for three years.

Returning home, he teamed up once more with Rob Oakeshott to become his Senior Advisor and was then elected to the NSW Parliament in 2008 following a by-election for the vacant seat of Port Macquarie, which he held until 2011.

Peter was elected Mayor of Port Macquarie-Hastings in the 2012 Local Government Election.

Mayor of Tamworth

Councillor Maureen Gant has been sworn in as the new Mayor of Tamworth at the

Annual Council meeting held at Tamworth Town Hall.

Cllr Gant was appointed to the role by unanimous vote, after the opposition did not propose an alternative candidate. Opposition Group Leader Cllr Simon Peaple said: “We will not propose an alternative candidate for Mayor, due to the fact that we have enormous respect for Cllr Gant and for the way she conducts herself.”

Following the vote, Cllr Gant said: “Thank you for having bestowed on me the honour and privilege of serving as Mayor of Tamworth.”

She thanked outgoing Mayor, Cllr Richard Kingstone, for the ‘fantastic job’ he did during his year in office, and thanked Mayoress Lisa Kingstone for her ‘unstinting support’. She added: “You are a hard act to follow”.

Cllr Gant also announced that her charities during her year in office will be Tamworth Talking Newspapers and Tamworth Samaritans.

Outgoing Mayor Cllr Richard Kingstone said: He said: “The past year has just whizzed by and it has been such fantastic fun. It has been a huge privilege to be your Mayor and to meet so many wonderful Tamworth people. This is something that we will remember for the rest of our lives. At the same time, my wife Lisa and I have raised around £2,500 for our two chosen charities – St Giles Hospice and The Pathway Project.

“I've also presented more than 300 Be Tamworth badges, spoken in too many school assemblies to mention, hosted almost 100 different Tamworth-based voluntary groups to special 'thank you' receptions in the Town Hall, handed out flagpoles and flags to several primary and secondary schools and much, much more.

“We have been to some amazing places and met some amazing people. We knew that Tamworth was good, but we didn’t know it was that good. It is a brilliant place filled with amazing people.

“We hear claims that the town centre is dying, but in my year as Mayor, I have been asked to open nine small businesses in Tamworth. These are people who are prepared to invest in Tamworth and drive the town forward. Tamworth is not dying, but is evolving into something new and we need to encourage that.

“I have really been very lucky and would like to thank the people of Tamworth for their special support. None of this though would have been possible without the support of Derek, Roger and Lin who make up the civic team. They have looked after me and enabled the duties of the Mayor to run without a hitch.

“I would also like to thank Lisa, my wife. Without her acting as my conscience I would have made many mistakes. Tamworth is an amazing place full of the most delightful, funny and incredible people. I am proud to have been your Mayor."

Mayor of Orange

I have lived and worked in Orange for most of my life. I went to school here and have

children now bringing up their families here. I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

For good reason, every day new residents are calling Orange home.

Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in April last year found that the
population of Orange was growing faster than almost any other country centre in the state and was ahead of many parts of Sydney.

Nine of the ten fastest growing local government areas outside the Sydney were in inland NSW and Orange was 3rd on that list.

The most recent Census data shows that Orange’s population grew by 7.7 % up from 35,339 in 2006 to 38,057 in 2011.

And the largest age group in Orange is the 0-4 year olds and anyone that has been to an event in Orange can attest to the happy stampede of young families, of toddlers and strollers.

I understand what attracts people to live here.

In Orange, I see the best PCYC in NSW with indoor courts, cutting-edge gymnastic equipment and more than 3000 members. I see a Regional Conservatorium with more than 900 talented young students finding their feet and the hitting right notes in the world of music. I see an indoor aquatic centre that delivers year round activities and I see more than 500 hectares of open recreation space and parks.

If there is a better example in Australia of a Victorian era park than Orange’s Cook Park then it would certainly be worth seeing.

In Orange, I see a growing education sector and a university with vision to expand. I see at a cost of $290 million plus the newest and best hospital in the State offering services to close to half of NSW.

I see a city at the heart of regional economy with a gross regional product of around $2 billion. I see wide, tree-lined streets and a buoyant retail sector. And I see Orange as a food and wine destination rivalling and surpassing longer established areas across the country. I see a diversity of industry and employment opportunities from mining to health and from winemaking to boiler making. I see four distinct seasons of which my highlights are the colours of Autumn and the vibrancy of Spring.