VLGA - Victorian Local Governance Association Inc

This week on VLGA Connect, Chris Eddy interviews Golden Plains Shire Council Mayor Owen Sharkey to discuss how his municipality is dealing with growing pains and gearing up to make sure its voice is heard in the run down to this year’s state election.

We also meet Mansfield Shire Council CEO, Kirsten Alexander who has just been reappointed for a further four years.

And finally we chat to Tony Raunic and get his initial thoughts on the updated local government legislation introduced in Victorian Parliament earlier this week.

Watch here https://youtu.be/_1ZJ1CciIFE or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Sponsored by Hunt and Hunt Lawyers.

20-26 VLGA Connect- 19 June 2026 This week on VLGA Connect, Chris Eddy interviews Golden Plains Mayo...

Achieving gender parity has been part of the VLGA’s DNA for close to two decades.

The Mary Rogers Awards for women in local government not only celebrate and acknowledge the significant contributions and achievements of women councillors as civic leaders but shine a spotlight on the importance and benefits of balanced gender representation.

Nominations are now open across four Award categories including:

🟣 Mary Rogers Award - Awarded to a current woman councillor, recognising their outstanding contribution as a civic leader in Victoria.
🟣 Emerging Woman Leader - Awarded to a first term woman councillor who is demonstrating outstanding leadership.
🟣Gender Equality Council Champion Award (Metropolitan) – Awarded to a Council in a Metropolitan/Interface council in recognition of their work leading meaningful change in the gender equality space by supporting women’s participation in local government and decision-making.
🟣Gender Equality Council Champion Award (Regional/Rural) – Awarded to a Council in a Regional/Rural council in recognition of their work leading meaningful change in the gender equality space by supporting women’s participation in local government and decision-making.

Nominate now by visiting the VLGA website https://ow.ly/hGNk50Z9cJP

The Mary Rogers Awards for women in local government serve as a platform to promote and advocate for the advancement of gender equality across the sector.

They also celebrate and acknowledge the significant contributions and achievements of women councillors as civic leaders.

Nominations are now open and close Friday 3 July.

Visit https://www.vlga.org.au/governance-leadership/local-government/mary-rogers-awards to find out more.

This week on VLGA Connect, Chris Eddy interviews Frankston City Council CEO Tennille Bradley on her first 6 months in the role, council's priorities and taking part in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout to raise awareness of homelessness and advocate for change in the community.

Tony Raunic from Hunt & Hunt Lawyers returns to break down the decision from the Victorian Supreme Court which has ruled the suspension of the former Whittlesea Mayor invalid.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/3z7U0hzKqUE or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers.

19-26 - VLGA Connect - Friday 12 June 2026 This week on VLGA Connect, Chris Eddy interviews Frankston City Cou...

The Mary Rogers Awards for women in local government put a spotlight on the very important contribution women make to the local government sector and the importance of gender parity.

Our vision is to see 50% of women elected as councillors and mayors by the next local government election in 2028.

We know that diversity in the council chamber inevitably leads to strengthened and more informed decision making and good governance and contributes to the prevention of fraud and corruption in local government.

Nominations are now open. Visit https://www.vlga.org.au/governance-leadership/local-government/mary-rogers-awards to find out more.

Named after Mary Rogers – the first woman to be elected to a Victorian Municipal Council (City of Richmond 1920-1925) – these annual Awards will celebrate and acknowledge the significant contributions and achievements of women councillors as civic leaders in local government.

Nominations are now open in the following Award Categories until Friday, 3 July at 5pm:

🟣 Mary Rogers Award - Awarded to a current woman councillor, recognising their outstanding contribution as a civic leader in Victoria.

🟣Emerging Woman Leader Award- Awarded to a first term woman councillor who is demonstrating outstanding leadership.

🟣Gender Equality Council Champion Award (Metropolitan/Interface) – Awarded to a Council in a Metropolitan/Interface council in recognition of their work leading meaningful change in the gender equality space by supporting women’s participation in local government and decision-making.
🟣Gender Equality Council Champion Award (Regional/Rural) – Awarded to a Council in a Regional/Rural council in recognition of their work leading meaningful change in the gender equality space by supporting women’s participation in local government and decision-making.

To nominate visit https://www.vlga.org.au/governance-leadership/local-government/mary-rogers-awards

This week on VLGA Connect, Cr Lawrie Cox, Mayor of City of Whittlesea chats with Chris Eddy about the council’s stand on road conditions in the region and its call for the state government to step up and do more to manage its assets.

Cr Jodie Ashworth, the mayor of East Gippsland Shire Council, joins to talk about her leadership journey, and current issues and challenges happening for council which is one of the largest and diverse municipalities in the far eastern corner of the state.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/S9UzRzOwnR4 or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers

18-26 - VLGA Connect - Friday 5 June 2026 This week on VLGA Connect, Cr Lawrie Cox, Mayor of Whittlesea City ...

This week on VLGA Connect, host Chris Eddy speaks with the mayor of Glen Eira City Council, Cr Simone Zmood, about the council’s successful application for a rate cap variation, the reasons behind the request and how they consulted with the community.

To celebrate the launch of the 2026 Mary Rogers Awards for women in local government, Chris talks to last year’s inaugural winner Cr Kylie Spears, Wombolano Ward Maroondah City Council about why the awards are important and why people should nominate.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/5NKxZKNRbVM or download whenever you get your podcasts.

Sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers.

17-26 - VLGA Connect - Friday 29 May 2026 This week on VLGA Connect, host Chris Eddy speaks with the mayor of...

This week on VLGA Connect, Mayor of Latrobe City Council, Cr Sharon Gibson joins Chris Eddy to discuss the unique challenge facing the Gippsland region due to the impacts of the closure of the power station and how the region is advocating for support to adapt.

Tony Raunic from Hunt & Hunt Lawyers returns to give his thoughts on how councils can manage the issue of homelessness, looking at amendments made by the City of Port Phillip to their local laws.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/bHETdL2rjVs or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers.

16-26 - VLGA Connect - Friday 22 May 2026 This week, Mayor of Latrobe City Council, Cr Sharon Gibson joins Chris Eddy to discuss the unique challenge facing the Gippsland region due to the impacts of...

Nominations for the 2026 Mary Rogers Awards for women in local government are now open.

The annual Awards, delivered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), in partnership with the Victorian Government, celebrate and acknowledge the significant contributions and achievements of women councillors in local government.

They also serve as a platform to promote and advocate for the advancement of gender equality and focus on supporting women’s participation in local government and decision-making.

Nominations are open in the following Award Categories until Friday, 3 July at 5pm:

🟣 Mary Rogers Award - Awarded to a current woman councillor, recognising their outstanding contribution as a civic leader in Victoria.

🟣 Emerging Woman Leader Award - Awarded to a first term woman councillor who is demonstrating outstanding leadership.

🟣 Gender Equality Council Champion Award (Metro/Interface)– Awarded to a Victorian Council in metropolitan or interface Melbourne in recognition of their work leading meaningful change in the gender equality space by supporting women’s participation in local government and decision-making.

🟣 Gender Equality Council Champion Award (Rural/Regional)– Awarded to a Council in rural or regional Victoria in recognition of their work leading meaningful change in the gender equality space by supporting women’s participation in local government and decision-making.

Visit the VLGA website to nominate: https://www.vlga.org.au/governance-leadership/local-government/mary-rogers-awards