Murrindindi Shire Council is pleased to announce that at tonight's Special Meeting of Council, Cr Damien Gallagher and Cr Anita Carr were unanimously re-elected as Mayor and Deputy Mayor respectively, for the 2025-2026 Council year.
Cr Sandice McAulay acknowledged Cr Gallagher's outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment to the Shire and Council of Murrindindi. She highlighted his integrity, clear vision and genuine care for the people he represents, noting that his steady guidance, proactive approach and willingness to listen have strengthened local communities and helped deliver positive outcomes across the region. Cr McAulay said his contribution has been invaluable and that he is exceptionally well-suited to lead the Council as Mayor.
Addressing the Council chambers, Mayor Gallagher expressed his honour at continuing to serve the community as Mayor.
"Our democratic system supports every person to be valued and every voice to be heard. Citizenship is our calling to uphold the values that democracy represents. Tonight, I honour my fellow Councillors for their dedication to service, and I thank you most sincerely for supporting me to represent Murrindindi Shire Council once again as Mayor. It is truly the honour of my life."
Reflecting on the past year and looking ahead, Mayor Gallagher highlighted Council's priorities for the next 12 months.
"The year ahead will be a defining chapter for this Council and for our community. Over the next 100 days, we will set a clear roadmap to achieve financial sustainability.
We will sharpen our focus on efficiency and accountability, ensuring every dollar works harder for our residents. At the same time, we will engage deeply with our community to understand priorities for service delivery, so that what we provide truly reflects local needs. And we will continue to advocate strongly to the Victorian Government for fairer distribution of funding. Together, these steps will position us to meet challenges head-on and build a stronger future for all."
"I recommit myself tonight to serve the entire Murrindindi community, inclusively, to the very best of my ability. Let's get to it," he said.
Deputy Mayor Carr expressed gratitude for the opportunity to continue in the role:
"I am delighted to be re-elected as Deputy Mayor and to work alongside Mayor Gallagher and my fellow Councillors. My focus will be on strengthening community engagement and ensuring that the voices of all residents are heard in shaping the services and priorities that matter most."
Both Mayor Gallagher and Deputy Mayor Carr thanked Councillors for their confidence and reaffirmed their commitment to inclusive leadership and strong advocacy for the community.
