Former and current East Gippsland Shire Councillors joined senior staff to acknowledge the 30th anniversary of local government amalgamations in Victoria recently.
The amalgamation on December 2, 1994, saw East Gippsland Shire Council created from the former City of Bairnsdale and Shires of Bairnsdale, Omeo, Orbost, Tambo, and part of the Shire of Rosedale.
East Gippsland Shire Council is the second-largest shire in Victoria (by land size). Across the past three decades, the shire has had 17 mayors, including eight who served multiple terms: John White, Mark Reeves, Mendy Urie, Joe Rettino, Dick Ellis, Jane Rowe, Harvey Bates, and Shaun Beasley.
The first mayor of East Gippsland Shire, Brenda Murray OAM, spoke at the event. She noted a lot of good things happened in the past and are continuing to happen today, thanks to the dedication of councillors and staff over the years.
