Radford backs Horsham potential N
BY DEAN LAWSON
ew Horsham mayor Mark Radford has pledged to work for a prosperous Wimmera future as he guides Horsham Rural City Council for the next 12 months.
Cr Radford, who takes over from Cr Pam Clarke in the municipality’s senior role, accepted his nomination at a statutory meeting at Horsham Civic Centre. Cr Radford, 60, who operates an electrical-contracting business, won a secret ballot for the position from fellow long-term councillor David Grimble. It will be his second time as mayor, having previously led the council in 2014-15. Cr Radford spoke strongly about the potential of Horsham, its people and the council in his acceptance speech. Before launching into a passionate address about Horsham, Cr Radford took a moment to acknowledge Cr Grimble’s nomination and his 10year contribution to Horsham as a councillor. “David and I have probably had a bit of a Carlton-Collingwood relationship but we have great respect for each other I think it is fair to say,” he said. “We often disagree but sometimes
EXCITED: New Horsham Rural City Council mayor Mark Radford, centre, is flanked by his fellow councillors, from left, David Grimble, Josh Koenig, John Robinson, Pam Clarke, Les Power and Alethea Gulvin. Picture: DEAN LAWSON agree, and there is no doubt about it events and activities including the Sal- energy, passion and commitment to that he has my respect as a councillor vation Army, YMCA and Vectis Rural delivering positive outcomes for our for what he has achieved. Fire Brigade. community is outstanding,” Cr Rad“I look forward to continuing to Cr Radford said during his speech ford said. work with him.” that he would also endeavour to make “We each bring a mixture of experiCr Radford joined the council in the next year productive and enjoy- ences, areas of passion and expertise 2008 and apart from his business and able for the council group. and we have a great diversity of ideas. council commitments is also involved “I thank my fellow councillors for “But, to be an effective council, we in a variety of community groups, affording me this opportunity – your must be a highly functioning team and
I am proud to say that this council is 100 percent focused on delivering for the community that we all love.” Cr Radford also spoke about how Horsham and district was a great place to live. “There are always at least two ways to look at any issue – to have a glasshalf-full attitude or a glass-half-empty perspective. I will try to encourage the former,” he said. “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. “We need to provide 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, to make the move from the capital cities,” he said. Cr Radford also thanked former mayor Cr Clarke. “We sincerely thank Pam for her tireless efforts, advocacy and support of this community throughout the past year,” he said.
Erwin becomes mayor for fifth time Kevin Erwin has returned to lead Northern Grampians Shire Council for the fifth time after winning the mayor’s job at a statutory meeting on Monday night. Councillors elected Cr Erwin, who was previously mayor in 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2013-14, replacing Cr Tony Driscoll, who was mayor for the past two years. The Central Ward councillor said he was ‘extremely’ honoured to be mayor for a fifth time. “Well, here we are again,” he joked. “I am very fortunate to have such a great council to work with. We have a great team here and I look forward to working with the other councillors to continue to represent our shire to the best of our ability.” Cr Erwin pinpointed important projects in the shire that he would focus on as mayor, including Bulgana Green Power Hub and making sure any State Government pre-election promises, such as funding for projects in Halls Gap and Lord Nelson Park in St Arnaud, were kept if applicable. “For the next 12 months my focus will be to continue the groundwork that has been done over the past two years,” he said.
Kevin Erwin, left, and Tony Driscoll Cr Erwin also made a commitment to continue to support the shire’s smaller towns, including Marnoo, Glenorchy and Navarre. Cr Erwin first joined Northern Grampians Shire Council in March, 2003. His election comes a month after winning Municipal Association Victoria recognition for his 15 years of service as a Victorian councillor.
Cr Erwin spoke highly of his predecessor Cr Tony Driscoll. “I congratulate Tony on his two years as mayor. He has done a great job in that period,” he said. Cr Driscoll, a councillor since 2012, reflected on what had been ‘an eventful and successful’ two terms as mayor. He said there had been many important moments in his time as mayor, which started at the beginning of his first term with the closure of Stawell Gold Mine. “It was pretty confronting actually, having just been appointed mayor, virtually a week after that we got a phone call to say the mine was going to close that morning,” he said. “We immediately had to go into a positive mode, despite how terrible the situation was, to be of support to our employees and community.” Circumstances have come full circle, with the mine reopening for production as Cr Driscoll’s time as mayor comes to an end. Cr Driscoll said the world-first Bulgana Green Power Hub was also gaining momentum, with the wind-farm part of the project under construction.
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