23/10/2026
I love the current streetscape of Maitland. As I drove into town on Wednesday morning, the view northbound along main street was stunning, in my view. It’s something I always appreciated when I worked from the Maitland office many years ago.
On my way out, I decided to stop and take a photo to share. Then I paused and thought, how do I caption this when these trees are scheduled for removal?
And that, in many ways, sums up one of the challenges of being an elected member.
As a Councillor, you bring your own views, values and experiences to the role. You’ll have your own ideas about how Council should operate and what you believe is best for your community, but you’ll also encounter opposing views from fellow Councillors and members of the public. Ultimately, you’re required to consider the information before you, weigh up different perspectives and make decisions you believe are in the best interests of Yorke Peninsula as a whole.
Being part of a Council means accepting that not every decision will reflect our personal views. There will be times when others question your judgement, and perhaps times when you question it yourself. That’s part of the responsibility that comes with the role. Making decisions in the public interest isn’t always easy, particularly when those decisions involve competing priorities, differing expectations and outcomes that not everyone will support.
It’s important that, even when we disagree with a decision, we remember there is a person behind it. Every elected member brings their own experiences, perspectives and genuine beliefs about what is best for their community to the Chamber.
As Mayor, my role adds another layer of responsibility. I must remain impartial in the way I perform my duties, put my personal views aside and ensure all elected members have the opportunity to contribute. An important part of my role is to support Councillors in fulfilling their responsibilities and working towards the goals and outcomes they hope to achieve for their communities. That means helping create an environment where Councillors can participate meaningfully, have their views heard and work through the decision-making process within the powers and responsibilities provided to them under legislation.
It is not my role to take sides, impose my own views or make decisions on behalf of Council. My responsibility is to support the process and the elected members who make up the Council, while respecting that decisions are made collectively by the elected body.
We won’t always agree, and that is an important part of a healthy democratic process.
