Corangamite Shire Mayor Ruth Gstrein was recognised at the Municipal Association of Victoria annual conference on Thursday night.
Cr Gstrein was presented with a Councillor Service Award for 20 years of dedication.
The Central Ward Councillor was first elected to Council in 2002, and was re-elected in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020. She has served two three-year stints as Mayor between, 2007-2009, then again from 2020.
She has also served as an MAV Board Director for 10 years, including as Deputy President (Rural).
“Having been part of six councils over the time, I have served alongside councillors who have always been focussed on progress and the wellbeing of Corangamite residents and businesses,” she said.
“Previous Councillor Geoff Smith, who I had the pleasure of sitting beside for many years, was a great mentor, who always provided me with support and sound advice.
“I love local government and the ability to work closely with groups and the wider community to achieve their goals,” Cr Gstrein said.
Cr Gstrein said highlights of her time on Council included the Apex Park upgrade project, the launch and evolution of the Robert Burns Festival, construction of the Camperdown Stadium and Terang gym and most recently the new library service venture with Moyne Shire and the Twelve Apostles Trail.
“The Camperdown skate park was another terrific project. There were some really enthusiastic young people who got involved and helped with the planning and fundraising and then got to enjoy the fruits of their labour.
“It’s never dull. Every day you have no idea of what could arise, who a phone call could come from, how big or small the issues are.
“To me all of these things are important, and I just enjoy being able to play my part.
“Organisation wise, I appreciate the amazing staff we have who do their best to deliver quality services and projects.
Cr Gstrein said her 20 years on Council had also had its challenges, notably COVID-19 and other natural disasters, meeting community expectations with limited finances, and cost-shifting from other tiers of government.
Despite ongoing advocacy, it was disheartening to see the continued deterioration of the State arterial road network, she said.
“Disaster recovery, particularly following floods and fires, has been an inspiration seeing the fantastic connections in our communities and the relationships we have built to support one another,” she said.
“At the end of the day, I am one of seven within a team. I am grateful for the support given to me by my fellow councillors along with my incredible family Peter, Christopher and Lucy. I couldn’t do this job without them.”
The MAV Councillor Services Awards celebrate the achievements, commitment, and dedication of long-serving councillors across the state.
In all, 77 Councillors from across the state received Councillor Service Awards for 10, 15, 20 and 25 years and eight received Mayor Emeritus Awards for three terms leading their respective Councils.
MAV President, Cr David Clark, said serving one’s community through your local council is a unique responsibility.
“Communities need dedicated individuals, like those receiving these awards, who are willing to give their time and energy to serve in the best interests of the people and their local communities,” Cr Clark said.
“Being a councillor can sometimes be a thankless task. We think it’s important, as the peak body for the local government sector, to provide this recognition.”
“The MAV has the great privilege of seeing firsthand the hard work and hours dedicated councillors put into their role – often on top of their day job. It’s a credit to all those receiving awards.”
“Councils are proud to be part of their communities, they are the true local representatives. It’s a great honour, but equally a responsibility I know all of these recipients take very seriously,” Cr Clark said.
