Mitchell Shire can now welcome its new Mayor Councillor John Dougall and Deputy Mayor Councillor Bob Cornish following last week’s council meeting.
Prior to the council meeting where both councillors were elected as leaders, Cr Dougall had been elected to represent the Central Ward, while Cr Cornish was chosen to represent the South Ward for the Mitchell Shire.
A resident of Broadford for 12 years, Cr Dougall brings a wealth of leadership and public service experience to his role as mayor.
Having served 33 years in the Australian Army, he retired from active duty with a record of operational deployments and leadership roles.
Cr Dougall holds degrees in economics and management, and has extensive experience in finance, planning, and risk management
His commitment to the community is also reflected in his over decade-long involvement with the Kilmore Pony Club as a dedicated committee member.
Cr Dougall expressed his desire to leverage his skills and position to enhance community satisfaction.
“It’s a great honour and privilege to be elected as mayor, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to do my part in helping the council perform at a high standard,” he said.
“Having spent a long time in the army, service is at the heart of what I do. It’s important to me that I continue to serve the community in this new role.”
Cr Dougall said there were major challenges ahead for the shire, and everyone had a role to play in addressing the issues to best serve the needs of the community.
“Population growth, at the scale we are expected to face, is at the heart of these challenges. If we don’t get that right, the consequences will impact our ability to maintain high standards for the community,” he said.
“We need to understand what the community values through engagement, consultation, and feedback, and work together to find solutions that we can be confident in.
“We must also balance our obligation to future generations with the needs of the present.
“It’s not always an easy trade-off, and we must be careful not to fall into the trap of prioritising short-term needs, which can overshadow more important, long-term decisions.
“Local governance can often be a balancing act, and I look forward to working with my fellow councillors to get that balance right and work towards what is best for our community.”
Cr Cornish has been a resident of Wallan for more than 45 years, where he lives with his wife and their children.
With extensive experience in local government, Cr Dougall is serving his fourth term as a Mitchell Shire councillor. He was first elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2016 and 2020.
Cr Cornish said he was honoured to be elected as deputy mayor and looked forward to supporting the mayor and his fellow councillors to achieve positive results for the community.
“I know that the steps we take now will have an impact, and it’s crucial that we add value to the community with the work we’re doing,” he said.
“This group of councillors have different backgrounds and experiences, which will be vital in helping to create solutions for both the present and future of our community.
“The population is growing rapidly, and we need to ensure that we address this effectively. We must observe each challenge, listen to the community, and stay focused on preparing for the future.
“Time is critical, and we need to act with purpose to shape the future our community wants and deserves.”
