By JESSE GRAHAM
FOR the first time in the shire’s history, two women have been elected to the top roles at Yarra Ranges Council at the same time.
On Wednesday 6 November, Ryrie Ward councillor Fiona McAllister and Billanook Ward councillor Maria McCarthy were elected to the roles of mayor and deputy mayor.
Together, the pair marks the first time in the Yarra Ranges Shire’s 19-year history that two women have been elected to the top roles at the same time.
“This will go down in history,” Cr McCarthy said.
Cr McAllister was nominated by Chirnside Ward councillor Andy Witlox for the role and was pitted against Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn, who was nominated by Walling Ward councillor Len Cox.
The vote went down to the wire, with the council split between the pair, but Cr McAllister won the top job in a five-to-four majority, replacing former mayor, O’Shannassy Ward councillor Jim Child.
The position of deputy mayor was not so hotly contested – Billanook Ward councillor Maria McCarthy was nominated by Chandler Ward’s Jason Callanan and elected unopposed.
Cr McCarthy said she was very proud and honoured to be part of the first all-woman leadership duo at the council and that she was looking forward to working with the new mayor over the next year.
Cr McAllister said the election of herself and Cr McCarthy was a positive step for women achieving leadership positions.
“I would really love to see more women and more young women participating in community leadership roles and local government,” she said.
Cr McCarthy said the opportunities for women to gain leadership roles are available for those confident enough to grasp them and Cr McAllister said women don’t need to choose between family and public roles.
“Whether it’s a committee or council, if you’ve got a good support network then the opportunities are there,” she said.
Cr Cox spoke on the importance of the election and the mayoral role before the matter was put to a vote by the councillors.
“The mayor leads the council and is a servant of the council in many ways – the council is very, very much, to a great degree, judged by the way the mayor talks and behaves,” he said.
“They’re not just a councillor for one ward – they’re a councillor for nine wards and it is, to me, a very important and really great job.”
He said that the incoming mayor would have to have a “good brain”, the ability to talk to people, understand the workings of council and have a “fair degree” of experience in local government.
Cr Cox said Cr Dunn ticked “all those boxes”.
Cr McAllister said that one of the biggest issues over her next year as mayor would be the Bushfire Management Overlay, along with fiscal responsibility in terms of the Long Term Financial Strategy Plan.
Cr McAllister is heavily involved with community groups such as the Save Healesville Hospital Action Group (SHHAG) and said she would continue her work with SHHAG for the time being.
She said SHHAG is still a very informal community committee and she may need to look at her role in the group once it becomes formal and incorporated and conflicts of interest that may arise.
“Clearly, I need to be careful about the boundaries,” she said.
“I don’t think it’s inappropriate for me to be on those committees, but it impacts on whether I stay in the chamber when council makes decisions.”
