From the Mayor's Desk: Heroes of the past, heroes of the future

Published on 04 November 2024

The last week has been full of big picture thinking. Looking back on the floods of yesteryear as well as the contribution of our General Manager, and looking ahead to the opportunity to celebrate some of our many heroes in January next year.

Who is your Macleay hero?

Nominations opened this week for the 2025 Australia Day Awards.

Each year the tireless efforts and outstanding contributions of Macleay Valley citizens and community groups are recognised at Kempsey Shire Council’s Australia Day Awards ceremony. This is your chance to nominate someone you are proud of for an Australia Day Award.

This year we have created a new award for 2025, the Reconciliation Award. It will be awarded to a person or group who has made significant efforts towards reconciliation by building relationships, respect and trust between the wider community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

To make your nomination (it’s easy!) head to www.ksc.pub/ausday

An extraordinary manager

The role may have the title ‘General Manager’, but Craig Milburn has been far more than the ‘general’ type you might find in such a position. Craig’s dedication, care and commitment to the organisation and community has been demonstrated through fires, floods and a pandemic.

Unfortunately, Craig gave notice this week of his retirement commencing 13 December. He will leave immense shoes to fill. I would like to personally thank him for everything he has done in his seven years leading Kempsey Shire Council and wish him all the best in this new chapter.

We will undertake a thorough recruitment process to identify his successor and in the meantime I am very grateful to our Director Corporate and Commercial, Stephen Mitchell, who will step up into the role of Acting General Manager in the interim.

Heroes out of disaster

This week I was immensely proud to attend the premiere screening of Life Stories of the Macleay in Flood.

Produced by Kempsey Shire Council with the support of the NSW Reconstruction Authority, this is a film that captures the deep-rooted experiences and unwavering spirit of the Macleay Valley community during some of the most severe floods in its history.

Read more about it and watch the film at www.ksc.pub/lifestories

Thank you and take care,

Mayor Kinne Ring