It was a privilege to be elected by the people of Horsham to represent them for a fourth term and it is something I do not take for granted for one minute. It was also an honour to be elected by the councillors to become your mayor for the next 12 months.
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I am looking forward to the next term of council with much enthusiasm. The community have elected four new councillors who bring with them youth, diverse experiences, commitment and belief that they can make a difference in making this community a place we all want to live, work and play.
The day after being installed as mayor, I had the privilege of being part of Remembrance Day and the dedication of the new World War I memorial at Sawyer Park. The work that has gone into producing such a monument is evidenced by the detail in the construction and layout but, more importantly, the details on each of the 462 men that gave the ultimate sacrifice for us in the Great War. The information on each person makes this monument different from others, with each man’s rank, age, and where they died listed, giving us a small part of their story.
The next day, I was invited to attend the 10th birthday of the Horsham Aquatic Centre. I cannot believe 10 years has gone so quickly. This is a brilliant facility with over one million visits in the last 10 years. The team at the centre should be commended on the way they are continually adapting to the ever-changing environment they face daily.
The launch of the Kmart Wishing Tree was also a pleasure to attend.
Another thrill for me was enjoying afternoon tea last week with the local teams of the Tri State Games and hearing their stories of achievement.
It is an exciting time to be on council, with some interesting issues facing us already. The group has had nine briefing sessions as part of the orientation process.
Issues facing our new council as they build confidence in understanding the facts and details of each issue are: The Horsham Bypass, a multi-use sports stadium, construction of the Kalkee Road Children's HUB, the asset renewal, budget processes, and the rate capping, just to name a few.
It is with a great deal of confidence that I face the next year as mayor, knowing that this council group has the support of the community and the greater council organisation behind it.