Hindmarsh Shire Council’s Annual Meeting was held on Wednesday but was run a little differently this year due to COVID-19 restrictions and regulations.

It was held at the Nhill Memorial Community Centre, but with the public unable to attend, was live-streamed to Council’s Facebook page.

Past Councillors Debra Nelson, Rob Gersch, and Ron Ismay and were joined by new Councillors Brett Ireland and Melanie Albrecht.

Above - Cr Rob Gersch, Cr Debra Nelson, Cr Ron Ismay (Mayor), Cr Melanie Albrecht (Deputy Mayor) and Cr Brett Ireland.

Chief Executive Officer Mr Greg Wood conducted the election of Mayor for the next year, with Cr Ismay elected in a two-way contest with Cr Nelson.

Cr Albrecht was elected unopposed as Deputy Mayor.

Cr Ismay responded, saying “thank you Councillors and thank you for your support. I’m very much involved in the tourism side of things with Wimmera Mallee Tourism, and we’ve got some really good things going on.”
“I really believe that we’ve got a lot of businesses out there and hospitality industries that are hurting very badly, and we need to do the best we can to help them recover.”

- Mayor Ron Ismay
“Thank you, Cr Gersch, for your year as the Mayor, certainly things have been turned on their head, and you’re a very experienced Councillor. I certainly look forward to working with all of you over the next 12 months.”

Council also appointed delegates to Council advisory committees, community asset committees and external organisations.