Greetings from ACELG.

Welcome to the Town Crier, ACELG's new blogging platform for practitioners, councillors and others with an interest in the pursuit of local government excellence.

We hope you like the icons on the new website. These have been prepared by the Walkley Award winning cartoonist and national treasure, First Dog on the Moon. We encourage you to have a look around the new site, contribute to the Knowledge Exchange network and consider submitting a blog post. Also, don't forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The Town Crier is a place for everyone with an interest in local government to come and contribute to animated conversations about the sector. The Town Crier is designed to be an inclusive, supportive and interactive environment to hear about what's going on in the sector, and to contribute ideas and thoughts, so please drop by and participate in the discussions.

To the Town Crier I'll be contributing a regular piece called the "Town Crier Highflier" where I will interview intriguing people that I come across in my work for ACELG. My first "Town Crier Highflier" is Rosanna De Santis, Director Corporate and Community Services at Tiwi Islands Shire Council. Rosanna has a rich blended heritage; both Italian and Aboriginal. She joined the NT Police Force as a cadet and for 23 years policed in locations all over the NT, including in many remote communities. She recently returned home to the Tiwi Islands to take up a senior leadership role at the Tiwi Islands Shire Council. She recently presented at the 3rd National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment in Local Government Roundtable convened by Local Government Managers Australia and ACELG, and captivated the audience with tales of her experience of walking in two worlds

I will be interviewing a range of people from across the broad spectrum of local government in subsequent posts. One of the things I most enjoy about local government is the diversity of the sector. As we know from ACELG's profile of the local government workforce, local government employs over 192,500 people across over 400 occupations, and there are around 6,600 elected councillors in about 560 councils across the six states and the Northern Territory, so it is inevitable that there will be more than a few characters amongst the lot. Throw into the mix the folks working for local government associations and professional bodies, researchers, state and territory government employees with an interest in local government, and there is a rich source of interview material for years to come. I hope to introduce you to just a sample of the passionate people working in and serving the local government sector via the "Town Crier Highflier" segment. Of course, we would welcome nominations of people who you think should be exposed to a larger audience, so please make contact with your suggestions.

Speaking of characters…did you know?

That Mayor Bertrand Cadart of Glamorgan-Spring Bay in Tasmania has been recognised for "distinguished civil achievements and irreproachable conduct" by the French President Francois Hollande? The prestigious Ordre national du Merite (National Order of Merit) is reserved for French citizens living abroad who have served their communities with diligence. Mayor Cadart is the 18th recipient of the award, out of about four million French nationals living abroad, for 2013. 

Last year, Mayor Cadart was recognised by the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) with a Life Members' Award for Meritorious Service. The media release issued by LGAT refers to Mayor Cadart's flamboyant style and passionate advocacy for building the profile of Tasmania’s east coast nationally and internationally. According the media release, Mayor Cadart is a motorcycle enthusiast and Ulysses Club member, and traded his "fuel-guzzling council car for a two-wheeled motor scooter." And how about this for a truly "we're not worthy" achievement: Mayor Cadart worked on and appeared in the original Mad Max film opposite Mel Gibson. He played the character Clunk. RESPECT!

Life Member, Lynn Mason, said of Mayor Cadart: “Bertrand is an inspiring, passionate, committed and visionary leader, and a deserving recipient of the Life Members' Award for Meritorious Service.” 

And how about?

Mayor Dr Felicity-ann Lewis, who has been named South Australia's Australian of the Year for 2014. Mayor Lewis is the President of the Australian Local Government Association and Mayor of the City of Marion. She has been recognised for her work in local government, dedication to the reconciliation movement, and settlement of migrants and refugees. Last year, Mayor Lewis completed her PhD, so it was quite a year her.

Why not tell us about a local government character you have come across? They don't have to be award winners like Mayors Lewis and Cadart. They don't even need to have appeared in an Aussie cult classic film. Along with the award winners and film stars, we'd like to profile the lesser known characters working away at the coal face. Make contact, and we'll profile them in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, stay tuned for new blog posts, and explore the rest of the new and improved ACELG website!

Melissa Gibbs is the Deputy Director of the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government.

Back to the Town Crier