By Kyra Gillespie
Swapping the crown as ‘Mr Yakkerboo’ for the historic mayoral robes, Councillor Graeme Moore welcomed his election as Cardinia Shire Council Mayor for 2019.
Backed six to three as the shire’s leader over fellow nominee Cr Leticia Wilmot on Monday 12 October, the popular Port Ward councillor said his term as mayor would be “fun.”
“I’m excited, good to be back in the chair again after four years away. I can’t wait to get back on the ground and into the community I love,” he said.
“It’s going to be a great year; we’re not going to just be serious, we’re going to have some fun with this as well.
“The community has put us in these positions as councillors to represent them at this table sure, but we still have a life to live, and I think we can make this as enjoyable as we can.”
Now in his third term as councillor, the Nar Nar Goon father of three was beaming from ear-to-ear as he made the opening speech as mayor, with his family cheering on from the chambers.
“I’m just over the moon – thanks to the councillors for voting me in and entrusting me with the position. It’s very humbling.
“I want to thank my family, because without them I wouldn’t be able to achieve half the things that I do in the community.”
It is the second time Cr Moore has been Mayor, having previously filled the role in 2013–14 and that of Deputy Mayor in 2014–15.
One of the mayor’s goals for the year is to continue the shire’s Together We Can program, improving domestic violence statistics locally and supporting vulnerable families.
“I want to continue the Together We Can program, of which I’m an ambassador for. I think it’s the crux of our community; I think we need to support those vulnerable families that are in our community.”
In the 2017-2018 annual report, residents returned a satisfaction score of 53 out of a possible 100 for Cardinia council – a figure the new mayor has vowed to improve.
“I think we lack consultation and communication skills within council, especially on the issues that the community have. My forte in life is communication – always has been and always will be.
“I think we have to get back to the grassroots and the old-fashioned talking to people. I know a lot of people in the community who will embrace me as being mayor and who will be happy to discuss their issues with me.”
Former mayor, Cr Collin Ross was elected Deputy Mayor.
Most controversial of Cr Ross’s mayoral term was the banning of supplementary questions during community question time, a move that was deemed a threat to transparency by some councillors and residents.
The new mayor said he would consider revising the decision.
“I’m happy to look at it, although I think the courthouse is out at the moment on that subject. I think people have the opportunity to ask those supplementary questions on paper when they initially do their questions – and I’ve said that before.
“Sometimes people use the supplementary questions as a weapon against council in some ways; I think it’s often used and abused.
“But I’d like to restructure it perhaps, and look at how else we can put something in place where the community can address council officers or the mayor at those times more directly.”
