By Lucy Waldron
The Southern Downs residents have spoken, and their call for change has been answered as the region prepares to welcome a new and diverse council.
With councillor votes well on their way to being called, the top eight candidates are almost final and among them is a promising era of fresh perspectives and collaborative leadership.
Mayor Melissa Hamilton said she is excited about the council’s diversity and that the increased representation of women and younger members reflects a desire for change and innovation within the community.
“I think the appetite for change was there as well in terms of what was perceived to be quite a strong voting block on the previous council and I think people wanted to shake that up a little bit,” Mayor Hamilton said.
One standout in the election is Councillor elect Sheryl Windle, who secured an impressive 14,500 votes.
Ms Windle said she believes many voters in the community have shown that they wanted representation from more females for this term of council and the results show the voters have thought about their selections carefully.
“I am looking forward to working with all members of the new council, I think we have a good team and I predict that we will be able to achieve positive results.
“I can feel that there is a very positive vibe in the region and residents seem to be excited by this new council elect,” Ms Windle said.
Cynthia McDonald, who served on the previous council, welcomed the diversity of the new council and highlighted the potential for fresh approaches and opinions to shape the region’s future.
“The Southern Downs community has elected a far more diverse group of councillors for the 2024 council and I view this as an extremely positive development,” Ms McDonald said.
“I am personally excited by the opportunities to shape the future of the Southern Downs by working collaboratively with this new group of councillors and with fresh leadership from the new Mayor.”
Sarah Deane, one of the younger candidates elected to the council, echoed the sentiment of change and emphasised the importance of diverse representation in local government.
“I think people were looking for change,” Ms Deane said.
“It’s important to have a diverse representation in council, it’s a fresh team and I’m confident we’ll work well together.”
Similarly, Joel Ritchers, the second youngest councillor-elect, emphasised the benefits of having a “millennial council” and expressed confidence in their ability to address both current and emerging challenges.
“People may be thinking we are not ready to lead or to make big decisions, but I don’t think that is the case at all.” Mr Richters said.
“I also think the community are looking towards me more so for my enthusiasm to take action than my age.”
Morweena Harslett, whose position in the top eight is closely contested, highlighted the significance of the new council in fostering trust and unity within the community.
“It is a new era for the Southern Downs, I think everyone in the region can be excited to see what happens with this new group,” Ms Harslett said.
“I hope it might be the start of our public regaining some faith in the honesty, openness and decency of politicians in general and I hope that it will see a dissolution of the divide between the north and south of our region.”
Despite differences in age, gender, and background, the incoming council shares a common goal: to serve the Southern Downs community with enthusiasm, integrity, and a commitment to growth and development.
