Mayoral Matters | March 7, 2025
Published on 07 March 2025
In the past few weeks, one of my roles as mayor has been to visit local businesses with our CEO, Brent McAlister. I have had the pleasure of connecting with local businesses and groups, which has been both rewarding and insightful. We chat about how things are going, discuss their current situation and explore how the council can best support them moving forward.
These conversations, which touch on everything from economics to community matters, are always so engaging. It makes me realise how lucky Northern Grampians Shire is to have such diverse and successful businesses that we can help nurture and grow.
This month, I had the pleasure of meeting with six businesses, and each conversation has left me even more inspired by the innovation and drive in our community.
I find great value in learning about the services and products our local businesses offer, while networking and offering advice about how council can support them.
I had the privilege of attending the CWA East Wimmera Group AGM and Autumn Conference. I was deeply impressed by the incredible women I met and learnt from, and I look forward to continuing to support their efforts in the future.
On a personal note, I had the wonderful opportunity to celebrate my parents' 60th wedding anniversary by presenting them with a bunch of flowers on behalf of council.
This was a moment of pride for me as mayor and I was thrilled to honour their commitment to each other during such an amazing milestone.
I also recently took part in an online Thriving Regions workshop. A key takeaway was the power of community collaboration. When people come together, incredible things happen.
It is always inspiring to see how our community can rally together to achieve common goals.
Another standout was attending the opening of the Great Western Football Netball Club rooms.
It was a proud moment, especially given my father once coached at the club.
It brought back many fond memories of my younger years, and the football matches I attended in Great Western. I am proud of what we have all been able to achieve as a community, and I know the new clubrooms will service the region well for many years to come.
In addition to these events, I have been busy advocating for our Halls Gap businesses. Many were severely impacted by the fires, facing significant revenue loss and ongoing struggles with economic recovery.
Council and Grampians Wimmera Mallee Tourism have been advocating for category ‘D’ funding, which is crucial for our businesses’ financial recovery. We are determined to continue our efforts until we receive definitive answers from the State Government about available support.
Halls Gap has had a rough time, but I want to encourage all of you to visit and support the region. The Grampians are looking stunning, and now is the perfect time to explore