I’d like to acknowledge former mayor Pam Clarke for her time and commitment over the past two years.

It’s all happening in Horsham.

In recent weeks we have had numerous examples of our people achieving success on the sporting field and court, success with leadership awards for individuals and organisations, the recent business awards and many of our young people, after schooling in Horsham, are heading into the big wide world, to make an impression.  

We have amazing innovation and experimentation in our crops research, small businesses are progressing new ideas into something special and we have a perennial list of opportunistic investors seeing Horsham, and the region, as a pathway to success and prosperity.

In the past, council lobbied and worked with governments to provide clean water, sewerage, gas, telephone, electricity, and a train service.  

These days, our council is lobbying for better phone coverage, NBN internet quality, funding for infrastructure projects….and a train service.   

But, important as it is, the growth of our municipality is more than lobbying governments for financial support.  

Yes, we do rely heavily on external grants, but as a council, a regional centre, we need to continue to assist, support and encourage private investment for local jobs and opportunities and our existing businesses both on the land and on the street.

Horsham and our smaller localities are great places to live.  

We are surrounded by practical examples of decisions made by local councils of the past.

Often the greatest appreciation of where we live comes from the visitor or the returning resident.  

Yes, we have challenges, but we always have.

History records the challenges faced by the early pioneers, indigenous communities, challenges faced by our farming families, who for generations have worked to produce crops and rear stock through the most productive or heartbreaking seasons.

Our biggest challenge, that I have observed, since moving here 27 years ago, is making the transition from a country town to a rural city.  Providing the modern facilities that make a place an attractive option to live, particularly to entice the professional people we need, doctors, nurses, dentists, police, engineers, etc. to make the move from the capital cities.  

Modern cultural and sporting infrastructure with transport links and communications are the fundamentals to settling a new family along with our existing network of schools, our hospital, community groups, churches and support organisations.

Nine years ago, if you were to wander up Firebrace Street, all the way to the Wimmera River, we could actually keep going and walk across to the other side.  

The river was effectively dry.

But now, a flowing Wimmera River has become the focus of attention by our local community and council.

Back in 1882, a rowing club was established, a river steamboat operated prior to the First World War, in the 1970s the local Apex club had small paddle boats and a large paddle boat, The Enterprise, was launched in 1972.    

Forty-six years later watercraft are again being encouraged and facilitated by council, from canoes to pedal boats to Dragon Boats and the Kanamarroo waterskiing.  

Riverside walking and cycling is being encouraged more and more, with new paths being planned and under construction.

The addition of the cafe and other riverside activities will only increase the popularity of our flowing asset.

It’s all happening in Horsham.  

There is always at least two ways to look at any issue.

To have a ‘glass half full’ attitude or a ‘glass half empty’ perspective. I will try to encourage the former.

And so, with that motto in mind, I commit to giving the mayoral gig my best shot.

To my fellow councillors, I will endeavour to make our time together as a councillor group, both productive and enjoyable.