West Ward Councillor Jennifer Anderson was elected for a one-year term as Mayor of Macedon Ranges Shire Council at a meeting in Gisborne last night.
It is the fourth time Cr Anderson will serve as Mayor, having previously been elected as Mayor in 2014/15, 2016/17 and 2017/18.
Councillors also elected fellow West Ward and first-time Councillor Mark Ridgeway as Deputy Mayor for a one-year term.
At the meeting the newly-elected Mayor said she was looking forward to the year ahead. Mayor Anderson thanked her fellow Councillors for their support.
Mayor Anderson also thanked Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Elder Uncle Bill Nicholson, who performed a Smoking Ceremony prior to the Council meeting. For thousands of years the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung have employed Smoking Ceremonies to cleanse places and people of bad spirits to promote the wellbeing of their people as well as guests on Country.
Cr Anderson mentioned that Uncle Bill had shared a word which meant 'unity' and, while she felt it not appropriate to use the word herself, it was appropriate to the coming together of a new Council.
"Unity is very, very important, both amongst our Councillors, with our staff and the community, and I think united the Macedon Ranges has already achieved an awful lot of things and we can continue to do that together," Mayor Anderson told the meeting.
"Thank you for electing me as your Mayor, and I know we are going to have a fantastic year together and a fantastic four years ahead."
Cr Ridgeway said: "I am very honoured to be appointed Deputy Mayor and I am looking forward to supporting and working with the Mayor and all my fellow Councillors over the next year."
For more information about the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, visit Councillors.
The first Scheduled Council Meeting for the new Council will be held tomorrow, Wednesday 25 November, at 6pm and will be livestreamed. To view, visit Council meetings livestream.
