West Ward Councillor Annemarie McCabe has been re-elected as Mayor of the Baw Baw Shire Council following a Mayoral election on Wednesday 15 November 2023, which also saw Councillor Tricia Jones elected as the Deputy Mayor.
The pair make up the first all-female leadership group and both Councillors represent the West Ward.
Councillor McCabe has represented the Baw Baw Shire as Mayor for the last 12 months and said she is honoured and excited by the opportunity to remain in this role for another term.
“First of all, I would like to extend a thank you to my fellow Councillor group for the nomination and election, and I promise to continue to lead the Baw Baw Shire in the direction that it needs to go.
“The Baw Baw Shire is a rapidly growing community, boasting more than 60,000 residents, many of whom I look forward to continuing to work with.
“Advocacy and engagement are a key priority for this Council, and I will ensure that our residents’ are voices heard.”
Recently, Council introduced a new engagement platform Baw Baw Connect, an online resource that enhances opportunities for meaningful and direct interactions with Council.
Councillor McCabe said she looks forward to building upon the achievements and milestones from the last 12 months.
“As documented in the 2022/23 Annual Report, Baw Baw Shire has seen some great outcomes over the last year, including the opening and refurbishment of some of our incredible facilities, an increase in visitation across our recreational venues, and the introduction of the Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2022-2030, which demonstrates how we plan to care for and ensure that the Baw Baw Shire is in a great position for generations to come.”
The Mayor and Deputy Mayor will each serve a one year-term in their roles.
Recently appointed Deputy Mayor Tricia Jones said she looks forward to supporting Cr McCabe in another Mayoral term.
“I am particularly excited to work with Cr McCabe and this forward-thinking group of Councillors as we approach our fourth and final year of our term,” Cr Jones said.
“Now is the time to really focus on the amazing outcomes we can deliver for our community, while also welcoming new citizens, advocating on behalf of our residents, and continuing to provide a series of wonderful events that bring our community together.”
