Home » Showcasing FOCUS winners

Showcasing FOCUS winners

At the 2007 National General Assembly in Darwin, Local Government FOCUS invited delegates to showcase their Council’s achievements by entering our competition to win a full page feature for their Council in 2008.

Participants were requested to outline their Council’s best programs, projects or initiatives.

The quality of the entries received once again highlights the range of innovative and original projects Councils throughout Australia are undertaking in their endeavours to provide the best possible service for their communities.

Six entries will be featured during the first half of this year. Councils that did not win a full page feature may also be contacted during the year for an individual item on a particular project of interest that was mentioned in their entry.

The six winning Councils are Douglas Shire Council in Queensland (submitted by Councillor Melinda Cox), Wyndham City Council in Victoria (submitted by Councillor Leigh Barrett), Vincent Town Council in Western Australia (submitted by CEO John Giorgi), Latrobe Council in Tasmania (submitted by Mayor Mike Gaffney), Ku-ring-gai Council in New South Wales (submitted by Councillor Maureen Shelley) and Wakefield Regional Council in South Australia (submitted by Mayor James Maitland).

These entries will be featured in the following months:

Douglas – January (see page 7)

Wyndham – February

Vincent – March

Latrobe – April

Ku-ring-gai – May

Wakefield – June.

Digital Editions


  • Stretching for a good cause

    Stretching for a good cause

    Ballarat residents stretched, smiled and snuggled their way through a unique Kitten Yoga event that combined relaxation with a heartwarming cause – helping kittens find…

More News

  • Kylie Davies beats strong field

    Kylie Davies beats strong field

    Flinders Shire Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Kylie Davies as its new Chief Executive Officer. Ms Davies will start in the role on 13 April following a…

  • Leaving on a high

    Leaving on a high

    Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Chief Executive Officer Darren Fuzzard will end his tenure at the council in July 2026, marking ten years of service to the organisation and community. Mr…

  • Safety first for transport corridor

    Safety first for transport corridor

    Traversing a major Townsville transit corridor spanning three suburbs will soon be safer for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, with Townsville City Council commencing a $3.8 million upgrade of Hugh and…

  • Creating long-term employment pathways

    Creating long-term employment pathways

    The Shire of Carnarvon is creating long-term employment pathways and strengthening workforce capability through its participation in the Remote Jobs and Economic Development (RJED) Program, a national initiative designed to…

  • Cool summer plan for Campbelltown

    Cool summer plan for Campbelltown

    Extreme heat is the biggest killer of natural disasters in Australia, exceeding that for any other environmental disaster combined, including floods, storms, bushfires and cyclones. While high temperatures pose risks…

  • Bathurst has it’s scrap together

    Bathurst has it’s scrap together

    Bathurst Regional Council has successfully concluded its ‘Let’s Get Our Scrap Together’ campaign, launched on 1 September 2025 with funding from the NSW Government and delivered in collaboration with NetWaste…

  • Baw Baw acting CEO tenure extended

    Baw Baw acting CEO tenure extended

    Baw Baw Shire Council has extended the contract of Acting Chief Executive Officer Sally Jones until 30 June 2026. The matter was considered as a confidential item in the late…

  • Farewell to a much-loved bridge

    Farewell to a much-loved bridge

    Narrabri Shire Council hosted a special community farewell event in mid-January, Brekkie on the Bridge, ahead of the upcoming demolition of the Violet Street Bridge. The event brought together community…

  • Toolkit provides resources for staff to live values

    Toolkit provides resources for staff to live values

    Organisational values are at the core of every workday and task and Bundaberg Regional Council has developed a practical tool kit to support its workforce and promote its values. The…

  • New system for Blacktown

    New system for Blacktown

    Blacktown City Council has launched DAISY, a new digital planning assistant designed to help residents better understand planning requirements and prepare residential development applications. DAISY, which stands for Development Application…