Gannawarra Shire's new Mayor

Published on 08 November 2023

A Gannawarra Shire Council Murray Ward representative will hold the Mayoral role for the first time in 20 years during 2023/24.

Mayor Ross Stanton was elected to Gannawarra Shire Council’s highest community-elected representative position on Monday, 6 November, taking over the role from former Mayor, Cr Charlie Gillingham – who had held the position for the past three years.

Mayor Stanton, who was first elected to Council in October 2020, is the first Murray Ward representative to be Mayor since Don Harris, who held the position from 2001/02-2003/04.

“I am honoured to be afforded the opportunity and privilege to be Mayor of Gannawarra Shire,” Cr Stanton said.

“I am committed to providing the best leadership I can and continue on the good working relationship with my fellow Councillors and Council staff.

“I look forward to leading alongside my fellow Councillors into what will be a challenging, but bright future for the Gannawarra.”

Cr Gillingham was elected Deputy Mayor, making 2023/24 the seventh year in his eight-year tenure as an elected representative Cr Gillingham has held either the Mayor or Deputy Mayor position.

“I really enjoyed being Mayor for the past three years, and I thank my fellow Councillors, Council staff, my many friends in the community and my family for their support,” Cr Gillingham said.

“We have an amazing team within the Gannawarra Shire. We achieved many things during the past 12 months, albeit in trying circumstances as we responded to and recover from the devastating October-December 2022 floods.

“Council does an amazing job providing many required services to for our communities, including maintaining our parks and gardens, roads and footpaths, and I believe they should be proud of the work they achieve.”

ABOVE: Deputy Mayor, Cr Charlie Gillingham (left) and Mayor Ross Stanton following Monday's Gannawarra Shire Council Mayoral election.