New mayor to be elected in traditional ceremony

City of Ballarat councillors will elect a new mayor and deputy mayor at a council meeting tonight. 

After two years in the role, current City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Daniel Moloney, will not be re-contesting the position of mayor. 

He said it had been both an honour and a great privilege to serve the City of Ballarat as its mayor for the past two years.  

“Despite a pandemic trying to disrupt our progress, we have found true value in investing in community consultation and collaboration and being more transparent in running what is an incredible organisation,” he said. 

“Being a mayor of an organisation that manages over two billion dollars’ worth of assets and delivers nearly a hundred community services does not come without challenges, but I feel with the Ballarat community’s help we have ridden out some difficult times exceedingly well.” 

The council meeting will feature a historic town crier and the traditional ringing of the heritage Alfred Bells at Town Hall, requiring specialist bellringers. The Sovereign Hill Red Coats will also be attendance. 

The Alfred Bells do not ring often. However, the largest bell was recently rung 96 times to honour the life of Britain’s longest-serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.

The mayoral and deputy mayoral elections will be held during an unscheduled council meeting at Town Hall on Monday 7 November 2022 at 6.30pm. 

The council meeting will be livestreamed online.