It was a euphoric moment in the life of mayoral candidate Melissa Hamilton when she realised she had significantly pulled ahead of the sitting Mayor Vic Pennisi in the day-after results from the local government election on the Southern Downs.
The result still hangs in the balance, with neither candidate prepared to confirm or concede until preferences are counted, but it appears highly likely that Ms Hamilton will head a new-look council.
She had already decided to have a gathering the day after polls closed to thank her southern supporters, but the ’Win, Lose or Draw’ get together at the little Eukey Hall on Sunday 17 March had all the hallmarks of a celebration.
In true country style there were homemade goodies on a long table and sausages ready to sizzle.
While Ms Hamilton didn’t claim the mayorship in so many words on the day, she was still clearly happy with the results and the buzz of excitement in the air was unmistakable.
“The councillor candidates I spoke to outside the polling booths were staggered that we had every booth covered at the election. This is something you can’t do alone and it never would have happened without a fantastic group around me.“
She said the appetite for ’good changes for our community’ had been strong throughout the entire Southern Downs.
“We all want more vibrant communities. I’ve been surprised at how much this feeling was represented through the region,“ she said.
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