General News
30 November, 2024
Ismay mayor for fourth time
Hindmarsh Shire Councils new mayor says his aim is for the municipality to be “a vibrant, inclusive, financially stable council, with good facilities and quality road networks”.
Cr Ron Ismay was elected last week to lead Hindmarsh for a fourth time.
The former Dimboola Shire president was victorious in a three-way run-off for the role on Wednesday evening, polling four of the six possible votes, to defeat first-term council members Chan Uoy and Rosie Barker.
Councillors Uoy and Barker cast their votes for each other, while Cr Ismay was supported by James Barry, Tony Clark, Roger Aitken and himself.
For his duties, Cr Ismay will receive a minimum of $84,498 renumeration.
Across Victoria, all council members are allocated an annual allowance, set by a state government tribunal, to help offset their costs in representing the community.
In Hindmarsh Shire this also includes $27,291 for each councillor and $42,248 for the deputy mayor.
Cr Ismay served eight years on Dimboola Shire Council, before a local government amalgamation created the Hindmarsh Shire in 1995.
He is now in his 12th year as a Hindmarsh councillor.
He has been active in community organisations such as West Wimmera Health, Rainbow Town Committee and Rainbow P-12 College, and was an instigator of the district’s involvement with the Rail Freight Alliance.
Cr Ismay was the only member of the previous council returned to office in last month’s election, having made the switch from the East ward to West ward where he and Cr Barker stood unopposed.
“I look forward to working with Rosie in the West riding to try to replicate some of the drive I’ve had in Rainbow,” he said.
He served most recently as Hindmarsh Shire mayor for 12 months from April 2021, during the challenging second year of pandemic restrictions.
Wednesday’s meeting opened with the swearing-in of the six councillors, who then voted to adopt a mayoral term of one year and to elect a deputy mayor for the same period.
Cr Uoy, representing East ward, was named as the deputy, after finishing on four votes to two ahead of Cr Barker.
Cr Aitken was eliminated by lot after the three contenders tied with two votes each in the initial round.
“Over the past five years I have demonstrated that positive change is possible,” Cr Uoy said.
“I have shown that good things can happen, if you take small risks.”
The Dimboola Imaginarium co-owner and Wimmera Steampunk Festival founder said he was “touched” that the shire had “embraced a person like me into the diversity”.
He said in his five years as a resident of Dimboola, he had grown to love the area and he felt “very passionate” about its future.
The first monthly meeting of the new Hindmarsh Shire Council will be today, Wednesday afternoon, in the Council Chambers in Nhill.