Deputy Mayor Judy MacFarlane of the Never Never Ward has formally resigned from her position on the Roper Gulf Regional Council.
Judy MacFarlane was elected to council in 2012 as Deputy Mayor, was elected as Mayor in 2017 and again as Deputy Mayor in 2021.
During her term on council, Deputy Mayor MacFarlane drove continuous improvement of service delivery, worked with government agencies to develop strategies for all of their local communities and represented the Never Never Ward with passion.
“I would like to thank the residents of the Never Never Ward who put their trust in me to represent them on council,” she said in a statement.
“I am extremely honoured to have been elected for the past 11 years and I am grateful for the people I have met in this role and the friendships I have made.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow councillors, council staff and all the groups and members of the region I have worked with during my time on the council.
“I wish everyone the very best for the future.”
Deputy Mayor MacFarlane was also a member of the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory (LGANT) Executive and represented the Council in Canberra.
Mayor Tony Jack was full of praise for the Deputy Mayor.
“Deputy Mayor MacFarlane undertook her role on council with extraordinary dedication, always going above and beyond for the people of our region,” he said.
“We are sad to see Judy resign but respect her decision and wish her the very best for future endeavours.”
CEO Marc Gardner thanked Judy for her support and for what she has accomplished during her term on council.
“Judy has been fundamental in seeing positive change in council services and has overseen the growth and development of the council following on from the council amalgamations in 2008,” he said. “Furthermore, she led the organisation and our communities through the Covid-19 pandemic and various community natural disasters.
“Projects such as the multimillion dollar Rocky Creek Bridge at Borroloola, a wide range of road upgrades and the new ‘We of the Never Never’ statues in Mataranka.
“Judy has made a huge contribution not only to her home town and ward, but across the entire Council and even influenced Australian and Northern Territory Government policy on various matters,” Mr Gardner said.
Council will hold a by-election in the near future for the vacancy of the councillor position in the Never Never Ward and will arrange with the Northern Territory Electoral Commission to conduct the by-election. The councillors will vote for the Deputy Mayor’s vacant position at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 23 August 2023.
In August 2021, the council had elected the Deputy Mayor position for a two-year term, which coincides with the meeting in August.
