The Dovedale Bakery operator was elected unopposed this week at the branch’s first meeting of the year.

Mr Mundy filled the vacancy after a secret ballot for the post at the annual meeting in December was declared invalid.

Johnathon Allen defeated Graeme Welsh in the original ballot.

A party headquarters investigation confirmed the new president wasn’t a branch member at the time, making him ineligible.

Mr Allen has agreed to be a vice-president, along with member for Benambra Bill Tilley’s electorate officer, Tracey Holmes.

The new president joined the branch mid-way through last year.

He grew up at Swanpool before studying and working in Melbourne for more than a decade.

After returning to the North East, Mr Mundy was employed in a marketing role at Falls Creek ski fields for five years, before moving to Wodonga.

“I’ve always had a keen political interest,” he said.

“But never made the final step to be involved until now.

“I thought that if you are going to be involved do it properly.”

His other community involvement has included being a committee member of the Wodonga Auskick centre.

He said his immediate focus would be to ensure Mr Tilley was re-elected in November.

“We are very keen to get the right result and do the right things to make sure it happens,” Mr Mundy said.

“We will support him any- way we can.”

Lloyd Deane has been elected branch secretary.

Mr Mundy’s election as president has coincided with visits to Wodonga this week by Housing Minister Wendy Lovell and planning Minister Matthew Guy.