Mayoral Matters – September 2026

Published on 06 October 2026

Rural Councils Victoria (RCV) 2026 Forum in Swan Hill started the month being attended by our Chief Executive Officer Monica Revell, Director of Corporate and Community Services Petra Croot, and yours truly of course, alongside Cr Rosie Barker, Cr Roger Aitken, and Cr Chan Uoy. I have attended many RCV forums over the years and find them very informative. They’re a great way to meet and network with Council representatives from all areas of Victoria with 38 of the 39 rural councils attending this year’s forum. A presentation by a futurist on AI was, for me, at least a fraction scary. Scary of the unknown perhaps but a new revolution that is very quickly beginning to impact us all. Some good but I fear there will be regrets also. Our new economic future, but for whom. The sound and light show was spectacular and a great asset to Swan Hill. I couldn't help thinking, we have lakes and rivers, maybe we could do smaller scale and somewhat less expensive projects if a grant became available.

Our Wimmera Southern Mallee Council Alliance (WSMCA) met early in the month, discussions around mining and renewables were the main focus of course. They are becoming, to me at least, significantly complex issues to navigate the politics, housing, workforce and financial implications we are confronted with I am finding quite daunting. 

Federal MP David Littleproud came to Horsham to speak with our WSMCA group on Wednesday 30 September. On Friday 2 October we also had the opportunity to speak with David Davis MP and Bev McArthur MP. A wide range of issues were raised including the massive expansion of Dooen Freight Hub, Jeparit Weir, inadequate and poor mental health services, the road network and lack of equitable funding share to name a few. 

Council in partnership with the Wimmera Southern Mallee Council Alliance, Grampians Health and West Wimmera Health Services, is advocating for both State and Federal Government for the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System to be funded and established in our region. Many towns, including those in Hindmarsh, West Wimmera and Yarriambiack, still have no local clinicians, no crisis response capacity, and require residents to travel significant distances for even basic mental health care. Our message to government is clear: rural communities deserve equitable access to mental health services. This advocacy is practical, evidence-based, and urgently needed. We are simply asking for those commitments to be delivered in the Wimmera Southern Mallee.

Councillor Barker and I attended an Annual MAV Oration featuring Patricia Karvelas, a well-known political journalist and TV presenter. She spoke on a range of topics regarding local government. The state election in November will be like no other, even Patricia, with twenty years of political savvy, couldn't give a prediction. 

Some of our youth councillors and I had the privilege of attending a talk and Q&A event at the Lutheran College in Horsham with the former prime minister, Tony Abbott, organised by Emma Kealy MP. The students asked some interesting questions. Tony was quite humble and spoke about both his successes and failures in government.  

The Youth Council ran an open mic night in Nhill with some very talented singers, guitarists and piano players contributing to an interesting and entertaining evening. Good on you all for having a go!!! 

Leading Senior Constable, Anthony Clark, also known as Cr Tony Clark, was accompanied by several of his fellow councillors, our CEO, Monica Revell, and his family at a Victoria Police Medal and Awards event in Horsham on Friday 2 October. Tony has served Victoria Police for 38 years. Well done, we were all honoured to be there. To my surprise, my niece Teilah Rabone, also a Leading Senior Constable, received an award for service. 

Western Highway Action Committee (WHAC) farewelled John Martin from the group on Friday. John has been an outstanding contributor to WHAC for many years and secretary for as long as I can recall. Enjoy your retirement, John. 

WHAC has released a Vision and Priorities 2026 hard copy which should be available at most Council Offices very soon. Hopefully, whoever wins government in November will take on board the recommendations in this very well-presented document. 

Prolific rain last week forced the cancellation of the Tractor Pull and inaugural Sand Drag events at Rainbow. Disappointing, but a very welcome finish to what is shaping up to be a massive harvest for our farmers. I think the super El Nino could kick in anytime now. A new date has been set with the event now to take place on the weekend of 30 October – 1 November.

Farmer consultations begin this week, and CEO Monica Revell will be running CEO drop-in sessions Wednesday and Thursday next week in each of our four towns. For further information check out Councils Facebook page.

October marks the beginning of Seniors month for Hindmarsh Shire Council, which has a massive program of free events and activities across the Shire, with the FREE Seniors Concert featuring Frankly Sinatra, a tribute to "Ol' Blue Eyes" is in Nhill at the NMCC, Thursday 8 October 2026. Doors open at 10:30am. We also have the Men’s Day Tour coming up on Wednesday 21 October 2026! Bookings for both are highly encouraged as spots may be limited. Regrets, you'll have a few, if you don't go!!! 

Ron Ismay
Mayor

Pictured L to R: CEO Monica Revell, Deputy Cr Mayor Rosie Barker, Cr Tony Clark, Mayor Cr Ron Ismay and Cr Roger Aitken at Victoria Police Awards Presentation.