MAYOR David Robertson has been elected for another term in the top role with the Southern Grampians Shire Council (SGSC).

Cr Robertson was formally elected at a Statutory Council Meeting at the Council Chambers in Hamilton on Wednesday night with Cr Helen Henry also re-elected for a second year as deputy mayor.

“I look forward to continuing to (work) alongside the CEO and executive team,” mayor Robertson said.

“I’d … like to take the opportunity to thank council staff and the broader community for their support.”

Cr Robertson said during the past 12 months he was pleased to see significant developments in council service areas like youth, community planning and the shire-wide grants program - as well as the preparation of council’s Reconciliation Action Plan.

Deputy mayor Cr Helen Henry said she looked forward to continuing to advocate for areas where council was already taking action, such as in agriculture, sustainability and environment.

SGSC chief executive Tony Doyle chaired the meeting ahead of the election of mayor as part of local government protocol.

He said, as next year is the last year of the Shire’s four-year council term, the term for mayor would be set for one year.

Cr Mary-Ann Brown moved that the mayoral role for a one-year term which was seconded by Cr Helen Henry and subsequently carried.

Nominations for the position of mayor were put forward with Cr Bruach Colliton nominating Cr Robertson who accepted.

No other nominations were put forward.

“In the absence of any other nominations - I duly declare Cr Robertson as mayor for the next 12 months,” Mr Doyle said.

A round of applause preceded mayor Robertson accepting the symbols, the pendant and the gavel.

Mr Doyle took the opportunity to insert some humour into the formal occasion and presentation of the gavel and said, “it was not allowed to be used to hit CEOs with”.

“It is a symbol of authority in the chambers,” he said.

In acceptance of the position mayor Robertson said it was good to see so much wisdom around him with several previous mayors in the chamber.

“Thank you very much for bestowing the mayoral ship on me again,” he said.

“It’s a great team - I look forward to having another very successful and rewarding twelve months.

“Hopefully I can improve my performance.

“The team I work with … not only the CEO and the executive leadership here … they are a terrific team … showing their performance out on the ground to all our rate payers - I congratulate them - the team is getting better and better.

“Councillors - I think we have great dialogue, we have good discussion, and good debate.

“We are seven individuals on council … and we reflect that … we’ve all got different views, but we come through at the end of the day … we understand each other’s arguments and we make a decision and so far I think in the three years I’ve been on council, I think it’s been very rewarding to see the working relationship between councillors.

“Council is not just about rates, roads and rubbish, there’s many, many other things.”

Mayor Robertson said SGSC performed across many fields and said some of those go unnoticed and made special mention to the appointment of a youth officer in the last 12 months.

“That youth officer has developed many things and is kicking a lot of goals,” he said.

“The creative workshop was one example and was fully booked out for a whole week in town.

“The library holiday programs are always booked out and our youth officer is also working very closely with Brophy with an extended group of young people.”

In reference to the Reconciliation Action Plan, mayor Robertson said it was very important and SGSC had established a close relationship with the Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative and the Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation with an Aboriginal liaison officer appointed in the last 12 months.

He also said there had been a reinvigoration of progress associations in the shire’s towns.

“(This has been) very rewarding because they come together and … we have a representative going to all those meetings,” mayor Robertson said.

“They come back with requirements or requests … it works very well.

“The Art Gallery … Josh White has really put Hamilton on the map.”

In closing his address, mayor Robertson said council would always strive to do better.

“Well done to staff and councillors,” he said.

Cr Brown nominated councillor Helen Henry for the position of deputy mayor.

Cr Henry accepted with no further nominations put forward and was duly re-elected.

“I’d like to reiterate my commitment to Southern Grampians, the organisation and the community,” Cr Henry said.

“(I will continue) to advocate and to take action - especially around the areas where we’ve made a lot of progress but there’s still much more to be done … youth, supporting business and agriculture, sustainability and environment.”

Cr Henry talked briefly about leadership and encouraged people who were considering running for council, to start thinking about it now, ahead of the elections next year.

“It’s certainly a privilege to serve,” she said.

“One of the strengths of this council is that we are a diverse and well-rounded bunch and we come with a unique set of principles - from that diversity, our decisions are better and more far-reaching and probably represent the community better.”