Benalla officially has a new council, but the mayor and deputy mayor have not changed.
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Danny Claridge was nominated by Peter Davis and seconded by Bernie Hearn before being unanimously voted in as Benalla Rural City Council Mayor for the next 12 months.
Cr Claridge then delivered an acceptance speech.
“I am proud and honoured to be elected as mayor of our city,” Cr Claridge told the meeting.
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“Being elected mayor is a great privilege and I thank my fellow councillors for placing their trust in me to lead the council in 2021.
“I commit myself to serving Benalla with energy, pride and integrity.
“The mayor is one of seven councillors, who share equally in decision making.
“The statements and views of the mayor will represent the views and policies of fellow councillors.
“We are currently in a period of unprecedented growth.
“We, as a council, are very lucky and privileged to be given the task of steering Benalla through this important time.
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“In the next four years there will be many hard decisions to be made, decisions that will have a lasting impact on the city, and I am confident we have the team to do this, and do it well.
“As we move through our term as councillors we need to be mindful that not everyone is enjoying success.
“Through no fault of their own there are some in our community that are sad and lonely, some are hungry and some are homeless...
“Benalla Rural City have a team of caring and supportive staff that work tirelessly in this area who need and deserve support.
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“I would like to welcome our new councillors Justin King, Punarji Hewa Gunaratne and Gail O'Brien and I congratulate Bernie Hearn on her appointment to deputy mayor.
“Once again I thank you for the opportunity to serve as mayor and in closing I would like to share a quote from CS Lewis which I think is pertinent to us.
“He said ‘You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending'.”
Council voted in favour of electing a deputy mayor, in line with the Local Government Act. Cr Bernie Hearn was elected to that position.
The newly appointed group of councillors hold office until September 2024 and include five former councillors, three former mayors, two first-time councillors, five men and two women.
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The seven Councillors are:
Mayor Danny Claridge: First elected November 9, 2016–October 24, 2020. Cr Claridge has served as mayor since November 13, 2019.
Deputy Mayor Bernie Hearn: First Elected November 9, 2016–October 24, 2020. Cr Hearn served as deputy mayor from November 13, 2019–October 23, 2020.
Peter Davis: First elected November 30 2005 – Councillor for 15 years. Cr Davis served as deputy mayor from November 14, 2018 to November 13, 2019.
Don Firth: First elected December3, 2008-October 27, 2012; Elected again on November 9, 2016–October 24, 2020. Cr Firth served as mayor from November 9, 2016, to September 14, 2018.
Justin King: First elected October 31, 2012-October 22 2016. Cr King served as mayor from November 5, 2014 to October 22, 2016.
Gail O’Brien and Punarji Hewa Gunaratne are first-time councillors.
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At the meeting council deferred the appointment of council representatives to advisory committees, peak industry bodies and regional and community-based committees until the council meeting to be held on December 16.
Two councillors were appointed to join the Benalla Art Gallery Community Asset Committee, those being Cr Davis and Cr Claridge.
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