Published on 23 September 2026
This month marks the mid-term of this current council term with an Extraordinary Council Meeting to elect our Mayor and Deputy Mayor. I would like to thank my council colleagues for the continued faith they have put in me by electing me as Mayor for a third time taking me through to the end of this term in September 2028. I would also like to extend my congratulations to our newly elected Deputy Mayor Catherine Healy who has been elected to this role in her first term on Council. Catherine brings a wealth of local knowledge and enthusiasm to the role and I am sure will be a great support to me as Mayor. Great thanks must go to retiring Deputy Mayor Renee Paine. Renee will be continuing on Council but has decided that it is time to step away from the Deputy Mayor role. Renee has brought great practical knowledge and advocacy to the role and is a wonderful example of a busy women doing great things for her community.
With the NSW state election scheduled for March next year Council has started to step up its advocacy. In August we attended the Country Mayors Association meeting which hosted the state opposition leader, housing minister and others. We are actively seeking meetings with politicians from all sides of politics in order to get our messages across. Council are in the process of developing an Election Brief which will be brought to our October council meeting to assist with this.
Last month I was pleased to attend an information session for the Tocumwal United Football Club – a new community soccer club. A small group of enthusiastic locals are looking to get a club and running for young people in Tocumwal. They are currently seeking expressions of interest before moving forward with formal arrangements. It is wonderful to see such initiative from community-minded people. If you or your children are interested in participating please contact Michael Osborne.
Mayor, Dr Julia Cornwell McKean