The Tuesday 11 November Yarra Ranges Council meeting was set aside for a mayoral election, with two new faces in the role of mayor and deputy mayor.
Chirnside Ward councillor Richard Higgins is stepping up from the deputy role to sit in the mayor’s seat, while Chandler Ward councillor Gareth Ward will be his right-hand man.
Cr Higgins said it was an honour to be up in the mayor’s seat and to be elected by his peers. “The role, for me, is to look after you guys, look after the staff and look after everything we do in this wonderful place,” he said.
“Coming down the hill to Lilydale tonight and for the first time in, I don’t know how long, there was a full-blown rainbow across the whole of Lilydale and the Yarra Ranges and I thought that’s the first time I’ve ever seen that looking down into the valley.
“And I thought how appropriate, when I’m trying to think up words of what it’s like to be looking after this wonderful place, it’s like a pot of gold, it’s a fortune, a treasure and that’s what we all do when we’re here.”
Both Cr Higgins and Cr Ward ran unopposed for their selected role, with Yarra Ranges councillors traditionally understanding who they wish to elect to the role prior to the meeting each year.
Cr Higgins said there are nine councillors who’ve each got different attributes, different systems, different knowledge and different abilities.
“All of us have something in this room to give to our council, which makes it very unique but the one thing we all have in common is that we’re looking after our community and where we live,” he said.
“I’m not going to go on about the budget and how hard it is to make it balanced and how all those things are, we’ve got some real challenges here at Yarra Ranges, we’ve got both urban and rural and we’ve got natural disasters that are coming our way, whether we like it or not.
But I believe that I’m up to the challenge, I will strive to my best to rise to that occasion but I’m sure I’ll be able to because I’ll have you along with me, which is really nice.”
Cr Higgins also took the time to thank outgoing mayor O’Shannassy Ward councillor Jim Child, listing the multitude of roles, responsibilities and achievements he managed during the previous 12 months.
Cr Child said he just wanted to thank them all for their support.
“Along that journey, there’s been a few health issues as well and every time that there’s been that challenge for me, there’s always been a team here behind me as well, so I thank you sincerely for that,” he said.
“To you Richard, I couldn’t ask for much more from a deputy and that’s why it was my pleasure to nominate you here tonight so I look forward to working with you and again, of course, with all my fellow councillors and the officers.”
Cr Higgins was first elected in 2008 and previously held the role of mayor in 2019–2020.
Cr Gareth Ward, who was elected last year, said he wanted to thank everybody for the opportunity, for which he is truly honoured, and he looks forward to doing his very best.
“I wanted to begin by acknowledging and thanking our outgoing Mayor, Cr Jim Child, over the past year, your leadership has guided this Council through some challenging and defining moments, you’ve set a high bar in professionalism and commitment to our community, and I wanted to thank you for the example you’ve set for us all,” he said.
“To our newly elected mayor, congratulations. I think it’s going to be a really great year ahead. I’m genuinely looking forward to working alongside you and I know that we share the same commitment to serving our residents with transparency, respect and a genuine drive to make our community stronger, you have my full support every step of the way.
Cr Higgins and Cr Ward will each serve in their roles for a year before the next mayoral election.
Cr Ward concluded the election and said he also wanted to thanks his fellow councillors and his family.
“To my fellow Councillors, thank you for placing your trust and confidence in me, and I give you my word that I’ll tackle this role with humility, hard work and integrity, and I’ll do my very best not to let you down and to be a Deputy who represents us all fairly and responsibly,” he said.
“Lastly, I would also like to thank my wife, Rachel, and my kids who are in attendance tonight, you’ve put up with countless meetings, late nights and weekends where I’ve been elsewhere in the community instead of at home, your patience and encouragement have not gone unnoticed.”
