By Dongyun Kwon
During the first Yarra Ranges Council meeting with the new councillors, Cr Richard Higgins was elected as deputy mayor who will support the newly elected mayor Jim Child.
After the Chirnside Ward councillor was uncontested for his position, Cr Higgins told the Star Mail he could put more time towards serving the local government as he had retired from the police force.
He started to keep his promise by taking the role of deputy mayor.
When he was nominated by his fellow Cr Tim Heenan during the meeting on Tuesday 19 November, he didn’t hesitate to accept it and said “be honoured” to take the nomination.
Cr Heenan said Cr Higgins would be an important attribute towards Mayor Child.
“I believe with his 12 years experience on the council in many different avenues, Cr Higgins will be able to fulfil any duties that he needs to assist Mayor Child in his role,” he said.
“Both mayor and deputy mayor will play an important part as part of the wider team of councillors.
“I look forward to working with Mayor Child and Deputy Mayor Higgins.”
As no one else was nominated for the position of deputy mayor, Mayor Child announced Cr Higgins as the new deputy mayor for the next year.
This is Cr Higgins’ second term as deputy mayor.
Deputy Mayor Higgins has a variety of experience in the local government as he is now in his fourth term as a councillor and he took the deputy mayor role between 2018 and 2019 and the mayor position between 2019 and 2020 when Covid-19 first hit the world.
Cr Higgins said he would focus on building good harmony between the old councillors and the new councillors during his deputy mayor term.
“We’ve got a new council with four new councillors, so we’ve got to get that up and running as a complete unit,” he said.
“Importantly, we’ve got a Federal Election coming up and the State one sooner than later, so we need to be in the right place with what we need to look at.”
Deputy Mayor Higgins thanked all his fellow councillors for their confidence in him to do his role.
“I do look forward to working hand in hand with all councillors to make this council get over the initial phases of a new council, which will be interesting to hear everybody’s thoughts and ideas come through,” he said.
