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General News

10 April, 2020

Mareeba shire welcomes its first female Mayor

By Phil Brandel

Mareeba shire welcomes its first female Mayor - feature photo

Yesterday the Mareeba shire welcomed its new council and its first female Mayor

Last week The Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) finally declared the Mareeba Shire Council (MSC) with Angela Toppin announced as the new MSC Mayor.

Ms Toppin was officially sworn as the first female Mayor of the MSC yesterday, along with the six councillors making up the new MSC, these included returning councillors Mary Graham, Kevin Davies, Lenore Wyatt as well as new councillors Locky Bensted, Danny Bird and Mario Mlikota.

Ms Toppin released a statement saying, “It is with great humility that I can now confirm, following the formal declaration of the Electoral Commission Queensland, that I have been elected Mayor of the Mareeba Shire.’ she wrote

“To those who have supported me, believed in me from the moment I nominated, and been consistent in your faith and friendship - thank you from the bottom of my heart,

“Nipper Brown has been a great opposing counterpart and provided me with a true contest. I congratulate Nipper on his campaign and contribution to our shire over the past six years. I wish he and his family well. The beauty of this election has been that every candidate has only wanted the very best for our shire and residents.”

In her statement, Ms Toppin acknowledged outgoing Mayor Tom Gilmore. “I feel so much gratitude for our past Mayor Tom Gilmore, for his faith and support, for encouraging me to nominate. Thank you also to Deputy Mayor Alan Pedersen for your encouragement. The campaign wasn’t always easy but certainly worth the investment. I wish you both every success and contentment as you pursue other goals and dreams.”

In a statement released by the MSC yesterday, Mayor Angela Toppin said she's ready to lead the council with integrity, transparency and accountability. "I look forward to working with the elected council and the community to deliver positive outcomes for the shire," she said.

"I am fiercely passionate about this Shire and equally passionate about the people and the possibilities in this Shire.

Mayor Toppin said council's first priority is to deal with the impacts of coronavirus. "As a community, we are in unchartered territory, with COVID-19. People are anxious, frightened and overwhelmed by the unknown," she said.

"Council's sole focus is on dealing with flow-on impacts and looking at ways to mitigate the social, economic and health effects of this virus."

Mayor Toppin also said transport, water, infrastructure and tourism would continue to be at the forefront of the new council

The first meeting of the new councillors will be at 9 am April 15, where the vote will be taken for a new Deputy Mayor.

 

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