O’Shannassy Ward councillor Monika Keane, Melba Ward councillor Terry Avery, Chirnside Ward councillor Ken Smith, Ryrie Ward councillor Jeanette McRae, and Walling Ward councillor Len Cox check the statistics with Victorian Electoral Commission officer Hugh MacCartney. Chandler Ward councillor Graham Warren was absent.By Dion Teasdale
THE Shire of Yarra Ranges has a new-look council.
More than half of the newly-elected councillors are new faces.
Five first-time councillors were ushered in after the council election, held by postal vote, was concluded over the weekend.
The new nine-member council is made up of three women and six men, the same gender split as the previous council, but only four experienced councillors have been returned.
Ken Smith for Chirnside Ward, Noel Cliff for Streeton Ward and Len Cox for Walling Ward were all returned with convincing majorities.
O’Shannassy Ward councillor Monika Keane, the council’s deputy mayor during the previous term, was re-elected unopposed.
Former Billanook Ward councillor Clive Larkman was the only previous councillor contesting a ward to be unsuccessful in being re-elected.
Mr Larkman recorded the highest number of primary votes in his ward, but lost to newcomer Tim Heenan after the distribution of preferences.
Cr Heenan won by 670 votes.
The four remaining wards, Ryrie, Lyster, Melba and Chandler, are now also represented by new faces after long-serving councillors and former mayors Di Moore, David Hodgett, Robyn Hale and Alan Fincher decided not to run.
The most tightly contested ward was Ryrie, in which 194 votes separated the winner, Jeanette McRae, from runner-up, Kerri Goding.
Despite polling the largest primary vote, a total of 3084 votes compared to Cr McRae’s 1821 primary votes, Mrs Goding lost after preferences were distributed.
Cr McRae said she hoped she could emulate former councillor Di Moore’s integrity and passion, and that she was looking forward to working with other councillors and shire staff.
“I am absolutely delighted to have been chosen as the community representative for Ryrie,” she said.
Samantha Dunn, the candidate endorsed by the Australian Greens, is the new councillor for Lyster Ward.
Cr Dunn polled the highest primary vote and despite a close contest with the other leading candidate, Lyn Young, she won by 827 votes after preferences were distributed.
Terry Avery won Melba Ward, the seat previously occupied by outgoing mayor and Liberal candidate for Kilsyth David Hodgett. Cr Avery polled the highest number of primary votes and won the ward by 2235 votes after preferences were distributed.
In Chandler Ward, previously occupied by police officer Alan Fincher, Graham Warren out-polled restaurateur Jeynelle Forrest.
Cr Warren received 56.76 per cent of the primary vote to Ms Forrest’s 43.24 per cent, and he won by 997 votes.
In only two of the eight wards contested did successful candidates poll a majority of the primary vote.
Murrindindi Shire will also see a cast of new characters on its council.
Four new councillors were voted aboard on the weekend, with only two incumbent councillors retaining their posts.
Former Cathedral Riding councillor and former mayor Graeme Brown was defeated at the polls by Janet Gilmore.
Cr Gilmore ousted Mr Brown by 212 votes after the distribution of preferences.
Dennis Riding incumbent Peter Beales was returned by a narrow margin of 39 votes, defeating candidate Sally Abbott Smith.
Former Cheviot Riding councillor Bill Wall was defeated by newcomer Leanne Pleash. Ms Pleash won by 82 votes.
Koriella Riding was won by Chris Healy, who out-polled former councillor Andrew Coller by 338 votes.
King Parrot Riding incumbent Lyn Gunter was returned unopposed, and newcomer Bob Flowers was elected to Red Gate Riding unopposed after former councillor Mike Dalmau, the Liberal candidate for Seymour, retired from council.
