Cr Jessica Mitchell was elected as Campaspe Shire Council mayor last night for a 12-month term. Cr Daniel Mackrell was elected as deputy mayor.
After officially taking the chair at the unscheduled meeting, Cr Mitchell thanked her fellow councillors for their confidence in her capacity to lead Council and pledged to work hard for Council and the community.
Cr Mitchell said being on Council was a continual learning process and she planned to grow her knowledge while listening to our communities, advocating for our region, and working collaboratively with her fellow councillors to deliver the projects and services that matter most to residents.
"Thank you for giving me the opportunity," she said. "I know we have the wisdom in the room to make things happen."
Deputy Mayor Cr Daniel Mackrell thanked councillors for their contributions during his tenure as mayor and said he looked forward to continuing to work alongside them as deputy mayor.
"Thank you for the nomination," Cr Mackrell said. "It is a privilege to work with this group again, and I'll be happy to work with Mayor Mitchell to do the best we can for our community."
Before the election, Cr Mitchell said she had given the decision considerable thought, recognising that serving as mayor was both a privilege and a significant responsibility.
"It requires commitment, availability, sound judgement, and above all a genuine willingness to work collaboratively with every councillor for the benefit of our entire community," Cr Mitchell said.
She said her life experiences had taught her to work hard, seek advice and keep learning—an approach she would bring to the role of mayor.
Cr Mitchell identified accountability and communication as key priorities. She also emphasised the importance of representation in leadership and expressed hope that her election would encourage others to contribute to their communities and pursue leadership opportunities.
"I commit to preparation and transparency, a willingness to keep learning, and to working constructively with every councillor as part of this team," she said.
Cr Mitchell said informed decision-making would be central to her leadership, supported by the expertise and networks of those around her and guided by the needs of communities across Campaspe Shire.
