Goya Dmytryshchak
Four Hobsons Bay councillors will not recontest October’s election including Australia’s first Maltese-born female mayor.
Cr Angela Altair, a three-time mayor, is leaving after six terms and 21 years on council.
Also leaving are current mayor Colleen Gates, deputy mayor Sandra Wilson and councillor Michael Grech.
Cr Altair, a mother-of-three, said it had been a privilege to serve and thanked the community for their support all these years.
“Getting on council opened so many new doors. And a whole new career: I took a master degree at RMIT to help me with my environment portfolio and qualified a company director,“ she said.
“You’re constantly deciding on things that make life worthwhile and shape the quality of your daily life, like rubbish collections, beautifying parks and beaches, putting a crossing at a busy intersection, finding a better footy ground for the Auskick kids, building libraries, running baby health centres. You’re so much better off than some opposition backbencher counting heads.
“Seeing pet projects finally come to life, like the restored Ann Street footbridge and refilling the Botanic Gardens ornamental pond gave me great satisfaction. And the Newport skatepark.
“For my first mayoral project, I launched the art and culture coastal trail depicting our city’s rich history.
“And of course there’s the WillyLitFest I helped found with vital support from the council, and in 2012 we finally saw the opening of the fabulous new Williamstown library.“
Cr Gates said she felt privileged to have been served for the past eight years, including two terms as mayor.
“I am extremely grateful for the time spent with people, whether that was meeting residents to ‘walk the ward’, supporting community-led events and projects, volunteering or being spokesperson where I had a voice to make a difference,“ she said.
“I would like to also acknowledge the amazing team of dedicated staff at council who support what we do.“
Cr Wilson, also on the council eight years and mayor twice, said one of her proud legacies was “bringing calm and considered leadership to enable many great enhancements to be delivered for our community“.
“I am now supporting other good people to stand up and serve Hobsons Bay with integrity – it’s what we deserve, it’s what we should choose. The relationships I have made are treasured and many will endure. I have led with respect and I have always worked to grow trust.
“My service and contribution to my community will continue in a different vein because I love where I live and will never cease to care. There is an enormous number of people to connect with and thank – that time will come.“
Cr Grech said in his four-year term he had wanted “to deliver large infrastructure projects like I promised in my social media posts prior to coming into council“.
“The aquatic centre with gym, hydro pool and a water park in Laverton once completed will be major assets that will be used by the community for many years,“ he said.
