THE departure of Anna Speedie as a mayor and councillor at October's Wodonga municipal election ends an era.
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Having been introduced to local government as a 33 year-old marketing and finance manager when elected in 2005, Cr Speedie leaves as the longest-serving incumbent.
When she began, trains rumbled through central Wodonga, the Logic industrial estate was in its infancy, with the Woolworths warehouse under construction, and debate was swirling about a new aquatic centre.
Now old CBD rail land is being transformed, Logic is a freight hub and WAVES means swimming pools in Wodonga.
In Cr Speedie's time as mayor, the two most pivotal things for the city have been the Ombudsman's investigation finding ratepayers were being gouged on waste fees and the Two Cities, One Community agreement with Albury Council.
The former was undoubtedly a nadir for Cr Speedie who reacted defiantly when Ombudsman Deborah Glass found the council acted improperly by spending income from its waste management charge on services unrelated to garbage.
The Two Cities, One Community legacy is yet to fully play out, but it is fair to say the deal has not held much sway with governments amid the COVID-19 pandemic which has split the border.
That was evident on Friday when she teared up at her media conference while reflecting on the despairing letters she has received in recent times.
No doubt being a mayor is a hard job, particularly in the age of social media where female leaders are subject to sexist barbs, but it is also a great privilege which Cr Speedie acknowledged in noting how it gave her an opportunity to inspire youngsters.
Now some newcomers have the chance to follow her, with an election to feature endorsed Labor and Greens candidates for the first time and Albury radio host Kevin Poulton who like Cr Speedie has ties to the Albury Wodonga Community College.
