MELBOURNE’S west is dominated by female mayors, with Maribyrnong’s Catherine Cumming becoming one of five women to lead a municipality.
Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay, Melton, Moonee Valley and Wyndham now have a woman at the helm.
“It goes to show that some things are definitely worth waiting for,” said Cr Cumming following her election as Maribyrnong mayor, after being on the council for 15 years.
“I’m proud to become mayor on my own two feet and based on my experience and merit.”
But she said it was disappointing that Maribyrnong was now represented by only two female councillors out of seven, down from three last term.
In neighbouring Hobsons Bay, Cr Angela Altair said: “Every western suburbs council is now led by a female mayor.”
Cr Altair, who was Hobsons Bay mayor 10 years ago, is serving her fifth term in office after being elected to the council in 1999, when she was the sole female councillor.
The number of women on Hobsons Bay Council doubled from two to four — dominating the seven-member council. Luba Grigorovitch was elected deputy.
Hobsons Bay has two male councillors and one intersex councillor.
Brimbank is in administration and won’t go to the polls until 2015.
Only Moorabool bucked the trend, electing Pat Toohey as mayor. However, the rural western shire finally has a woman on board. Previously, the council was made up of seven men, all over the age of 40.
Cr Tonia Dudzik, one of two women who stood for election, received more primary votes than any other candidate.
Cr Kathy Majdlik has taken up the mayoralty in Melton after two terms in 2009 and 2010 as deputy.
Narelle Sharpe, in her second term on council, was elected mayor of Moonee Valley.
Heather Marcus was elected Wyndham’s mayor for the second time.
The Victorian Local Governance Association says women now make up 34 per cent of councillors, up 5 per cent from 2008, and 27 of 78 mayors are women. For the first time, every council has at least one woman.
