New mayor hopes for ‘inclusive’ community Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au JENNA Davey-Burns is the new mayor of Kingston Council. Davey-Burns was one of six new councillors elected at the 2020 local government elections. She has since served as deputy mayor, and on 8 November was promoted to the role of mayor. Davey-Burns will take over the job from outgoing mayor Hadi Saab. Tracey Davies was elected deputy mayor - this is the first time women have occupied both mayoral roles at the same time in Kingston Council’s history. Councillor Georgina Oxley was also nominated for the role of mayor. Davey-Burns was supported by outgoing mayor Hadi Saab, Steve Staikos, Tamsin Bearsley, Tracey Davies, Chris Hill, and Tim Cochrane. Oxley also ran for the deputy mayor role, but was not successful. After her election, Davey-Burns said her focuses for the next year are collaboration and inclusivity. “I am very focused on building strong, collaborative, and transparent partnerships with our community. By working together, breaking down barriers and celebrating everyone in our community we can build an even more cohesive, connected, and inclusive Kingston,” she said. Councillor David Eden asked that nominated councillors be given the opportunity to speak before the vote took place. This request was denied by a majority of councillors - the
same councillors who voted to elect Davey-Burns as mayor opposed the presentation of speeches. The new mayor celebrated the election of two women to the mayoral roles. “How exciting to be part of Kingston’s first all-female mayor and deputy mayor team,” she said. “Representation matters. Girls and young women deserve to have strong role models and opportunities to take up leadership roles in their schools, clubs, workplaces, and local councils.” Last year the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal determined that all councillors should receive pay rises each year until 2025 (“Councillors collect healthy pay rise” The News 21/3/22). From 1 July 2023, the Kingston mayor’s base allowance is $126,958, and the deputy mayor’s is $63,480. Davey-Burns and Davies will serve in their roles until the next local government elections in October 2024.
CARRUM MP Sonya Kilkenny with Kingston councillors and Long Beach Tennis Club members. Picture: Supplied
Carrum courts completed THE new pavilion and sporting facilities at Roy Dore Reserve have opened. The pavilion project and upgrades at the surrounding sporting fields cost $12.5 million. The site now hosts the pavilion, upgraded tennis courts, and new netball courts. Kingston Council spent more than $8 million on the project, and the state government put in $3.5 million. Carrum MP Sonya Kilkenny said “sports like tennis and netball are an integral part of community life and we’re proud to invest in projects that get even more people active and on the court.” “These works are the latest in a series to transform Roy Dore Reserve into a multisport hub that the local community deserves and can be proud of. These new facilities are exactly what users like the Long Beach Tennis Club have been waiting for, and I can’t wait to see the impact they will have on our local tennis scene,” she said. The six existing tennis courts were resurfaced - four were turned into artificial grass courts and two into hard courts.
HADI Saab hands over the mayoral robes to Jenna DaveyBurns. Picture: Supplied
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By Lifestyle Communities®
Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 15 November 2023
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