Cr Des Hudson elected as the returning City of Ballarat Mayor

City of Ballarat councillors have elected Cr Des Hudson as Mayor and Cr Peter Eddy Deputy Mayor for the 2023/24 term.  

This is the fourth and final year of the current term for this Ballarat City Council, with the next local government council elections to take place in October 2024 across Victoria.

This will be Cr Hudson’s second consecutive year as Mayor of Ballarat.  

In his first term as a Councillor, Cr Peter Eddy was elected as the Deputy Mayor of Ballarat for the 2023/24 term.  

The election occurred at an unscheduled council meeting at Town Hall on Monday night.  

After the vote, the Mayor was presented to the Town Hall Chambers in the official Mayoral robes and chains, accompanied by the Sovereign Hill Red Coats.

Following the meeting the traditional ringing of the heritage Alfred Bells at Town Hall took place, along with a presentation from the Town Crier.  

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson said he was honoured to serve the Ballarat community as mayor.

“As we commence this final term of Council, we still have considerable work to be done for our community now and into the future,” he said.

“We must maintain discipline to continue to complete the Council Plan, that we committed to in 2021.  

“I look forward to continuing to work with each and every one of this Councillor group, the CEO and his team to achieve great results for the City of Ballarat.”

Now in his sixth term, Cr Hudson is the longest serving Councillor with the post-amalgamation City of Ballarat and served as Mayor in 2015/16 and as Deputy Mayor in 2007/08 and 2014/15.

Cr Peter Eddy is a North Ward Councillor, elected in 2020. He is a passionate community advocate and has been involved in several local and state not for profit community boards over the past 30 years.  

Many family and friends attended the council meeting in the public gallery, while the meeting was also streamed online.  

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson and Deputy Mayor Cr Peter Eddy will be presented to Ballarat in an official proceeding, with the Town Crier on the steps of Ballarat Town Hall at 8.30am on Tuesday 14 November 2023.