Mayor-elect Margaret O'Rourke said her corporate experience combined with her status as one of the “fresh faces” on council was behind her colleagues’ decision to elect her to the city’s top job. 

One of seven newly-elected City of Greater Bendigo councillors, Cr O'Rourke won a two-horse race for mayor against James Williams. Cr Williams was one of two members of the previous council to be re-elected. 

“This is a new council, there are seven new people and they're really keen to start a new four-year term and they want to be more transparent,” the mayor-elect said. 

Cr O'Rourke said Bendigo’s growth into a major regional city – not her inexperience as a councillor – was behind the new council’s decision to appoint a deputy mayor for the first time.

The previous mayor, Rod Fyffe, was elected by his colleagues to that role, winning out against councillors Williams and George Flack.

The deputy mayor will not receive an additional salary and the role will be ongoing, Cr O'Rourke said. 

The Goulburn Murray Water and Bendigo Health Care Group director said the new council had made a collective commitment to put the bitter disputes which plagued the previous council behind them. 

“Everyone walked through that door with a clean slate,” Cr O'Rourke said. 

“We really want to make this work, we're really looking forward to understanding each other more, we've all got differences, we'll come from different opinions but it's about making sure that it doesn't get personal. 

“There's been a commitment by everyone around that table that we just want this to be a very forward-thinking and progressive council term.”

But despite the changes in personnel, the mayor-elect said she would continue plans established by previous councils. 

“The current plan about Bendigo being a vibrant and liveable regional city, for me, is still really strong,” Cr O'Rourke said. 

Cr Fyffe said he decided not to run for mayor “to give someone else a go” – but he felt his more than three decades experience on council could help provide support for the new mayor. 

“When you’re mayor, everyone comes to you,” Cr Fyffe said.

“The deputy is there to help the mayor by filling in at functions, meeting people and providing deputations … [but] it’s the mayor who’s the chief person and the deputy mayor is there to help that particular person.” 

Cr Fyffe said major policies of the previous council – including residential and public transport plans – would be continued by the new council. But he said the deputy mayor’s role would help drive the city generate new strategies for growth. 

“We are an evolving, progressive city, we do need to keep moving forward becasue that way we will generate jobs, we’ll attract specialists, we’ll attract people who want to come live in Benidgo and provide their services for our community and, more importantly, be part of our community and enrich us all.”