Councillors in Gunnedah and Narrabri have selected their leadership teams for the next two years, but the neighbouring councils took markedly different paths to their results.
Cr Colleen Fuller was re-elected Mayor of Gunnedah Shire Council, defeating challenger Cr Ann Luke by five votes to three. Cr Rob Hooke was elected Deputy Mayor by the same margin. In stark contrast to the young leadership elected next door in Liverpool Plains, that gives the Gunnedah leadership a combined age of 159.
The result followed more than 20 minutes of procedural confusion over remote participation and whether the elections could be conducted by secret ballot.
Council first refused to allow Cr Cameron Moore to participate in the meeting by audiovisual link, excluding him from being able to vote. Cr Linda Newell was permitted to attend remotely as her paperwork was in order, but councillors then tried to exclude her from voting as well by moving a motion to decide the mayoralty and deputy by a secret ballot.
Under NSW local government rules, councillors participating remotely can vote in a mayoral election conducted by open voting, but cannot participate when an ordinary or preferential ballot -both secret voting methods – is used.
Cr Robert Hoddle argued strongly against holding an open vote, saying Gunnedah councillors had traditionally elected their leaders by secret ballot.
“I’m not sure the community will accept this,” he said.
The debate was unduly lengthened by Cr Fuller struggling with meeting procedure, and high levels of confusion about what was being moved, seconded, or put. The election eventually proceeded by a show of hands.
With Cr Moore excluded, eight councillors participated in the elections. Cr Fuller defeated Cr Luke 5–3 before Cr Hooke defeated Cr Luke by the same margin for the deputy mayoralty.
Cr Kate McGrath did not seek another term as deputy mayor, with the polite explanation being that vacating the role would allow her more time to campaign ahead of the coming NSW state election.
“I didn’t particularly want to be mayor, and I’m disappointed Ann Luke didn’t get up because she would have been amazing,” Cr McGrath said.
“But I am very pleased that I didn’t stand as deputy again because, for the good of the organisation and the community, the mayor needs a deputy who can support them.”
Cr Fuller was first elected mayor following the September 2024 local government election, when Cr McGrath became deputy mayor and the pair formed Gunnedah Shire’s first all-female leadership team. Cr McGrath said having so many women on council was great, but encouraged more people to consider getting involved in council because all kinds of diversity was required.
“We need diversity in every regard. Diversity of gender, lived experience, culture, religion, skill set, all of it.”
In stark contrast to the confusion in Gunnedah, Narrabri Shire Council returned its leadership team without a contest. Cr Darrell Tiemens was re-elected mayor unopposed, while Cr Brett Nolan was also elected unopposed as deputy mayor.
Cr Tiemens thanked his fellow councillors for their support and pledged to continue working hard for the shire.
“Thank you, councillors. I really appreciate this, and I will continue to work really hard for our community,” he said.
“I think we live in a fantastic community, but we’ve got a lot of challenges at our local council level.”
He too encouraged others to consider getting involved in council, challenging them to consider the potential to do good.
“It is a real privilege, and I mean that.”
“It is a great privilege, and we can really help steer the future of our entire shire – all our wonderful towns and all our little villages.”
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