A number of local government leaders from across Australia have been recognised in the King’s Birthday honours list announced yesterday.
Among those honoured was City of Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore AO. Lord Mayor Moore is the longest serving Lord Mayor of Sydney and the first popularly elected woman to lead the City of Sydney and previously served in the NSW Parliament and on the City and South Sydney councils.
“I am honoured to be recognised with an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia (General Division) and am grateful for the opportunities I have had in both Parliament and the City,” said Lord Mayor Moore.
“I have worked with inspiring people – John Hatton and Peter McDonald when we held the balance of power in the NSW Parliament, and achieved what was called the most far-reaching reforms in any Westminster Parliament in the 20th Century.
“And when I was forced out of Parliament by anti-democratic legislation, I was able to hand the baton to the very effective Alex Greenwich.
“And I am grateful and appreciative of the Independent teams that I have worked with at the City of Sydney since 2004, as well as great City staff led by Monica Barone and the staff in both my Mayoral and Electorate offices – they have been an inspiration and joy to work with as we have transformed the City into an equitable, liveable and sustainable 21st Century City for all our communities.
“And importantly, I’m grateful for the support of my husband Peter, and the community that has repeatedly elected me to Parliament and Council,” she said.
City of Melbourne Lord Mayor, Sally Capp AO was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to the people of Melbourne, local government, business and the community.
She said she was “surprised and humbled” to be recognised in the King’s Birthday honours list, adding it was “a privilege to serve the people of Melbourne, and I thank them for the opportunity to work alongside them through past challenging circumstances and now as we shape the future of our city together. I have learned much from the resilience and ingenuity of Melburnians during difficult times, and I am grateful for the courage and determination they have instilled in me as Lord Mayor.”
Blacktown Mayor, Tony Bleasdale OAM, offered his congratulations to three local councillors (pictured, above) who were named in yesterday’s honours list.
“Three of Blacktown City’s Councillors have been named in the King’s Birthday Honours List, for their work to build a better community,” he said.
“My heartiest congratulations to Cr Julie Griffiths who was awarded an AM; Cr Susai Benjamin awarded an OAM and Cr Bob Fitzgerald who was awarded an OAM.”
WALGA President, Cr Karen Chappel was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant service to Local Government and to the community of Morawa.
Cr Chappel has been a Councillor at the Shire of Morawa since 2005 and President since 2009. She has been a WALGA state Councillor since 2012, President since 2022 and was awarded Life Membership in 2018.
She is the current Deputy President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA).
Cr Chappel said her family were strong role models and inspired her to serve in the rural community where she lived and worked.
“My father was a Shire President and from an early age the importance of service to your community was instilled in my family,” she said.
“As a very young girl I used to attend Country Women’s Association meetings with my mother, where I learned the important role women play in rural communities.
“While I am proud of my contribution to the Shire of Morawa and WALGA, I am equally proud of some of the work I have done within organisations such as Desert Blue Connect and Rural Financial Counselling Services WA.
“These organisations are all about making lives better for isolated folk in rural and remote WA and are incredibly important in the social fabric of our towns.
WALGA CEO, Nick Sloan said Cr Chappel was a tireless, trustworthy, and inspiring community representative who always led by example.
“Karen is an outstanding community leader who has dedicated herself over many years to supporting and championing Local Government across the State,” he said.
“From mentoring Elected Members in their own leadership journeys, to inspiring women to take control of their own destiny, to chairing the Morawa District High School Board and being Treasurer of the Morawa Golf and Bowling Club, Karen has done it all.
“Karen exemplifies that healthy rural country ethos of pitching in and getting a job done. Her passion for improving services in her community has been instrumental in many progressive projects in the Morawa and Mid West region.”
Murrumbidgee Mayor, Ruth McRae OAM, was recognised for her long standing commitment to local government and the Murrumbidgee community with an Order of Australia Medal.
Mayor McRae said she was deeply honoured to receive the award.
“It is an unexpected honour and very humbling,” she said.
“I have been privileged to be a councillor for 19 and a half years, firstly with the former Jerilderie Shire Council from 2004 to 2016, and with the amalgamated Murrumbidgee Council since then”.
She paid tribute to her family who she said had made it possible for her extended tenure in local government.
“To have been able to be engaged for as long as I have has only been possible because I have been wholeheartedly supported by my family.”
“And without sounding trite, if you love where you live and your community works with and support you, the very real challenges are just that.
“To be nominated by someone from the community I love is probably the most thrilling aspect of this honour,” she said.
