Cr Sue Moore was elected to the position seven votes to five over incumbent Mayor, Cr Fred Harvison, who was seeking re-election for his seventh straight year.

This was the third year that Cr Moore has stood for the position of Mayor, defeated by Cr Harvison seven votes to five on the previous two occasions.

The election of four new councillors at the local government election on September 13 helped swing the numbers in favour of Cr Moore who was clearly shocked by the result.

About 50 people packed the public gallery to witness the historic moment and a wild cheer of jubilation exploded among some in the gallery as Cr Moore was named the 2008 Mayor.

Cr Moore thanked the community for electing her as a councillor and said it was a huge honour to be now elected Mayor.

She said she looked forward to working with all the councillors for the betterment of the community over the next 12 months.

Cr Harvison congratulated Cr Moore and said he looked back on the past six years as a very rewarding experience and believed that Cr Moore would feel the same.

He said he did all he could to move the community forward and would give Cr Moore the same support as she had given him in the role.

Cr Paul Nichols was elected Deputy Mayor, contesting against Cr Lee Gallagher for the position.

Cr Nichols won the position nine votes to three in what will be his third year in the role. Cr Nichols said he too was looking forward to working with Cr Moore and the new council over the next year.

“I believe council is moving in the right direction for the community and I am proud to be a part of it,” Cr Nichols said.

Among those in the 50-strong gallery included past councillors Daniel Golenia, Bill Langdon, Grahame Kelly and Jon Doughty and former council general manager Steve McGrath.