Bruce Meyer will serve as mayor of West Wimmera Shire for an eighth time, following the new council's first meeting on Friday.
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Cr Meyer will serve a one year term.
At the meeting, he was one of two people to nominate as mayor, with Councillor Trevor Domaschenz nominating Councillor Jodie Pretlove in writing before the meeting began.
These two were the only two to vote for Cr Pretlove.
Cr Meyer, Councillor Tom Houlihan and Councillor Tim Meyer all voted for Cr Meyer, a majority of three votes on the five-member council.
On accepting the role during the meeting, Cr Meyer said: "We've all got four years of working for the community in front of us. We have the opportunity now to make improvements, advancements for our community.
"We know some of the challenges we have ahead for us, and the things we will be continuing to advocate for. There are some things with a lot of hard work - for example our mental health programs - which we can achieve. Hopefully in 12 month's time we will be able to look back and say we've had a good year."
Cr Pretlove was elected Deputy Mayor later in the same meeting, and councillors also nominated and appointed themselves to regional and state bodies and advisory committees.
The councillors also voted on when and where they would meet and stage community forums for the next 12 months.
In addition to meeting at the council chambers at Edenhope and Kaniva, the council will stage one meeting in Apsley in July and in Harrow in October, these being towns where meetings have not taken place for several years.
More to come.
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