November 16th, 2024New councillors sworn in for Macedon Ranges

The Macedon Ranges council election results have been announced with nine councillors across the three wards sworn in earlier this week after the Victorian Electoral Commission declared the results on Thursday, November 7.

East Ward will be represented by first time councillors Cassy Borthwick, Daniel Young and Andrew Scanlon, who were elected in that order.

Ms Borthwick has lived in Romsey for two decades and she has run a small business, hosting local events, and taking part in volunteering roles.

Mr Young has served a term in the state parliament in an independent party and has been a lifelong Macedon Ranges resident.

And Andrew Scanlon says that through his role as a councillor, he hopes to create a “place where people can live, work and be happy without fear of prejudice or judgement”.

Former councillors Henry Bleeck and Geoffrey Allan Neil were unsuccessful in their bids for election.

In South Ward, previous term councillors Dom Bonnano and Christine Walker finished first and second in the vote count, with Alison Joseph third.

Ms Joseph has been a resident of Macedon Ranges for over three decades and is passionate about protecting the environment.

She says she has a vision for “a council that delivers what the community wants, is open, accountable, keeps costs down and uses ratepayer’s money wisely.”

Previous term councillor Rob Guthrie and former councillor John Leitchford also ran for South Ward but were unsuccessful.

West Ward will be represented by three female councillors. New councillor Kate Kendall attracted the highest percentage of first preference votes, followed by previous term councillors Jennifer Anderson second and Janet Pearce third.

Ms Kendall is the volunteer president of Business Kyneton, is on the board of Tourism Macedon Ranges, and has worked as a chief executive and tech start-up founder.