Carly Moore has become the first female to be elected as mayor of Hume council three times – and is just the second councillor to lead the council for a third time.
The Aitken ward councillor was elected as mayor last night, taking over from Cr Joseph Haweil.
Former councillor Geoff Porter is the only other person to have led the council three times.
Meadow Valley ward councillor Sam Misho was elected deputy mayor. Cr Misho was elected to the council following last year’s local government elections.
Cr Moore said she was “extremely proud” to have been elected mayor.
“There is no greater honour than serving as mayor of the community in which you live, work and are raising your family,” she said.
“Our community is important to me. I love living here and I want everyone who chooses to call Hume home to love it here too.
“Our community has endured an unequal burden of loss and suffering throughout the pandemic.
“Sadly, we lost too many of our residents, we had higher case numbers, significant economic impacts and longer lockdowns.
“This pandemic hit us harder because we are economically and socially very different to other parts of our state.
“But we are also a very strong and resilient community.
“In the same week as I take on the role of mayor, we are beginning to open up and I can feel a sense of optimism from our community.
“It is fantastic to see our community back in our buildings.
“I am an ordinary person, a local mum, a wife, a small business owner and community volunteer.
“I commit my energy, honesty and passion. I will do my best.”
Addressing the council following his election as deputy mayor, Cr Misho said: “If at the age of 15, when I was living in Baghdad, [I] was approached by a fortune teller to be told that I will one day walk for 14 hours escaping from Iran to Turkey due to a war that will erupt… and that I will be a refugee for two years, after which I will fly across the globe to Australia… to one day become a deputy mayor of a municipality responsible for more than 250,000 people, honestly, I would have said ‘yep, no worries’.
“Having lived in Hume for more than 25 years, I’m eager to work for our community and our city.
“I would like to thank … all the councillors for endorsing me.
“I sincerely and genuinely thank you for your trust and confidence in me.
“I will endeavor to make you proud and work closely with our newly appointed mayor, Carly Moore, whom I’ve found to be extremely professional, kind and a leader that I’m certain will build on the achievements of her former mayors, and capitalise on them.
“Last but not least, I would like to thank my family for bearing with my busy schedule.”
