President's comment
Each edition we feature the views of a
State Local Government Association President. The following is from
Councillor John Jago, President of Victorian Local Governance
Association.
Some years ago I 'retired' to my ancestral territory of Sale
after a professional career which took me to Queensland, the United
States and Papua New Guinea as well as Victoria. I immediately
involved myself in community service work, particularly in children
and family services, and work with Koorie communities in eastern
Victoria.
In 1991, I was elected to the Sale City Council and became almost
a full time Councillor for the next three years. I was Deputy Mayor
in 1994 when the Victorian Government dismissed elected Councillors
and imposed their radical restructuring of Local Government.
In my district of Gippsland, five former municipalities were
merged into Wellington Shire Council, geographically the third
largest Local Government in Victoria. While most of the previous
Councillors faded from the scene I, with one or two other former
Councillors, strove to keep alight the flame of democracy in our new
Shire.
We attended 'Council' meetings run by the Commissioners, kept in
touch with the local media and retained our networks. During those
dark days I heard about the formation of the VLGA, a new body which
was dedicated to promoting and restoring democratic Local Government
after the old established body, the Municipal Association of Victoria
(MAV) was, in effect, taken over by the State Government.
I gradually became involved and grew with the organisation. The
VLGA was adamant that its membership should drive it, and that has
continued to the present. Three years later, all but two of the 78
Local Governments in Victoria are elected. The MAV has survived,
though in a radically different shape. VLGA has a membership list of
over 400 individuals, nearly 100 community groups and 21 Councils.
MAV is unchallenged as the peak association of Councils, while
VLGA is the community based movement for building democracy in Local
Government. The two organisations have recently established a
Memorandum of Understanding on their respective roles and activities.
We work together wherever possible.
I am again full time in Local Government and Deputy Mayor of
Wellington Shire. During the time of the Commissioners, VLGA was
important to many people as a vehicle for sharing information and
ideas with others. This meant concerned people, including former
Councillors, had some idea of what was going on in the Local
Government scene in Victoria and could plan strategically to restore
local democracy.
VLGA is still important to community groups and individuals
interested in building local democracy, because it is the only
organisation available to them that listens to their concerns.
A few of VLGA's achievements include the following.
- Running practical training courses for aspiring Councillors in
the lead up to the return of elected Councils.
- Running forums on legal issues, human services, building
controls and the role of Mayor and Councillors and producing
follow up publications.
- Developing the Code of Good Governance, in conjunction with
the MAV, which sets out the standards by which Victorian Local
Government should conduct itself.
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