Cr Des Hudson elected as new City of Ballarat Mayor

Published on 8 November 2022 at 12:01pm

City of Ballarat Deputy Mayor Cr Amy Johnson and Mayor Des Hudson pictured with the Sovereign Hill Redcoates and the town crier.

City of Ballarat councillors have elected Cr Des Hudson as mayor and Cr Amy Johnson deputy mayor for the 2022/23 term.

Councillors serve a four-year term, and mayors and deputy mayors are elected annually. This election marks current City of Ballarat councillors’ third year in office.

This is the second time Cr Hudson has served as mayor, having held the position over the 2015-2016 period, and Cr Johnson’s third term as deputy mayor.

The election occurred at an unscheduled council meeting at Town Hall on the night of Monday 7 November. The meeting featured a historic town crier, the Sovereign Hill Red Coats and the traditional ringing of the heritage Alfred Bells at Town Hall, requiring specialist bellringers.

Cr Hudson said he was honoured to serve the Ballarat community as mayor.

“We have laid a solid foundation for the coming years under Cr Daniel Moloney’s leadership as mayor,” he said.

“I look forward to working with my fellow councillors, and Cr Johnson as deputy mayor, to walk those plans out.”

The council meeting was streamed online.