Shire of Wongan-Ballidu

💫 APPOINTMENT OF NEW MANAGER COMMUNITY & CUSTOMER SERVICES 💫 We are excited to announce the appointment of Kim Walsh to our newly revised position of Manager Community and Customer Services. This role will continue to manage the Wongan Hills CRC and community development portfolio and will be the first point of contact for Community Groups. Following the announcement of the Shire's customer service restructure, in which our customer services will be centralised and provided from the Wongan Hills CRC, Kim will be responsible for steering the successful change of the restructure for our residents and customers. Kim has previously held the role of Coordinator of Customer Service at the Town of East Fremantle and her experience will be of great benefit to us during this transition, and for the future with customer service being our core focus. Kim has spent the past two years and three months in the Marketing, Communications and Events Officer role at the Shire working closely with both our previous Managers of Community Services in grant writing and community engagement. Kim has also held various other managerial positions over her career.

🤩 VISIT FROM WONGAN HILLS DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL 🤩 ✨ Last week, Wongan Hills District High School visited our workplace to gain an insight into what a career in Local Government looks like. 🚜 The students were taken on a tour of the Shire Administration Office, Council Chambers and the Shire Depot. Students were able to sit in the seat in which our Shire President and Councillors sit during important meetings. The students were most excited by the opportunity to hop into our plant and equipment down at the Depot, getting a real feel for the job! 💡 Thanks to WHDHS for organising this trip and showing your students our wonderful workplace. We hope some of the students consider a career with us one day when they leave school! The opportunities are endless... #LGCareers LG Professionals WA

✨ APPOINTMENT OF NEW DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (DCEO)✨ 🫶 Today we welcomed Melinda (Mel) Lymon to our team as the new Deputy Chief Executive Officer. 🧠 Mel comes to us with a plethora of previous local government experience, having previously worked at the City of Belmont for 8.5 years as the Governance & Compliance Advisor and in manager roles. In addition to this Mel previously held the role of DCEO at the Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands for 7 years, and Accountant at the Shire of Irwin for 8 years. Mel was most recently employed by Moore Australia (WA) as the Manager of Local Government Services. 👋 Mel has moved to Wongan Hills with her husband, and we know Mel will be an incredible asset to our team. We look forward to working with Mel and welcoming her into our community.

🌾 NATIONALS WA VISIT 🌾 Mia Davies MLA, member for the Central Wheatbelt for the Nationals and Lachlan Hunter visited Wongan Hills today. Lachlan is the endorsed Nationals WA candidate for the Central Wheatbelt area for the upcoming 2025 State Election, it was great to meet him and share some of our concerns regarding matters which impact our community. Mia and Lachlan met with Councillors and the Shire Executive Team, as well as visiting the Wongan Hills Seniors Recreation Centre to meet with community members to discuss issues we face. Mia and Lachlan acknowledged the current struggles for regional towns, for the limited housing supply which causes various issues for our community and many more across regional WA. Lachlan also mentioned his interest in potentially cycling in the upcoming Bike It To Ballidu Gravel, the community event that has put our Shire on the map across WA. Who knows, we might see Lachlan in fancy dress costume on Saturday 21st September, taking part in the big race...stay tuned!

🤩 2023-2024 HIGHLIGHTS 🤩 On Wednesday, we held our final Ordinary Meeting of Council for the 2023-2024 financial year, the first with our new Chief Executive Officer, Sam Dolzadelli. As we look forward with a new change in leadership, we have taken a moment to reflect on some of the achievements and major milestones we met this year. ✨We welcomed lots of new faces to our Shire family, as well as saying goodbye to some valuable staff members who left their mark on our team. ✨We celebrated 60 years of the Wongan Hills Memorial Swimming Pool. The pool also had a minor surface recoat and relining work on the pipes. ✨We honoured the members of our community who were awarded for their remarkable contribution in the Australia Day Citizen of the Year Awards 2024. ✨The completion of the new bowling club facility saw the final sporting group join the colocation facility at the Wongan Hills Recreation Centre. ✨Council secured and finalised a contract for supply of new staff housing with an estimated practical completion date in the coming financial year. ✨The Community Park Redevelopment Project began with the concept design and community engagement completed. ✨Solar panels were installed at Cadoux Recreation Centre. ✨Internally, a new payroll system has been implemented and the new Customer Service Charter was adopted by Council. ✨Major Road Projects consisted of: - 2km Road Widening on Waddinton-Wongan Hills Road - 3.5km Road Widening on Burakin-Wialki Road - Drainage & Kerbing Upgrades in Cadoux - 10km of Gravel Resheeting in various locations across the Shire - New footpaths on Ellis Street, Mitchell Street, Korraling Street. 💛 We look forward to adopting the 2024-2025 budget at the next Ordinary Meeting of Council and working together over the next 12 months towards our collective goals, making the Shire of Wongan-Ballidu a better place to live. Pictured Back Left to Right: Cr Sue Starcevich, Cr Elyssa Giedraitis. Deputy Shire President Cr Dwight Coad, Cr Matt Sewell, Cr Stuart Boekeman, Cr Geoff Chambon, Front Left to Right: Shire President Cr Mandy Stephenson, Chief Executive Officer Sam Dolzadelli

📚 STREET LIBRARY 📚 ⚒ In collaboration with Wongan-Ballidu & Districts Menshed and Wongan Hills District High School (WHDHS), we have had a Street Library made by the talented shedders and it has now been artistically painted by a student at WHDHS. 📖 The Street Library will serve as a free book exchange for residents and visitors to find a new book and replace with an old one they no longer need. ♻ This community initiative encourages reusing and recycling, finding new homes for your old unwanted books. The Street Library will be accessible at all times and will not be restricted to the opening times of the Wongan Hills CRC. 🎨 Aroha Price from WHDHS has talentedly painted images that depict our Shire and we are amazed at the outcome. We think we have a world-famous artist in the making right here in Wongan Hills. Aroha completed this project as part of Mr Simpson's Art Extension Class.

🔨 MEN'S SHED OPEN DAY 🔨 💛 Yesterday, we had the pleasure of attending the Wongan-Ballidu & Districts Men's Shed Open Day and listen to their informative talk by Kaylor Andrews from the Cancer Council. The event was very well attended with approximately 50 men and women joining for the morning. 🍰 Morning tea was provided with Carol's famous date scones being fully consumed before we even arrived 😥! The shedders cooked up lunch for all the attendees with everyone leaving with a full tummy and having learnt something new. 👨⚕️ A key message to take away from the day was always check with your Dr even if you have the slightest of symptoms and don't wait. More information on this topic can be found at https://lnkd.in/g_EkHr2k Thanks for the invite Men's Shed and we look forward to next year's open day!

🤩 JOIN OUR TEAM 🤩 The Shire of Wongan-Ballidu is seeking applications from dynamic, enthusiastic and highly motivated candidates with the relevant experience to join our hard working and passionate team and become a part of the Wongan-Ballidu Community. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the position is responsible for an annual budget of approximately $10m and net equity of $260m. You will be resourceful, innovative and passionate about your work and want to be part of a Shire renowned throughout the Wheatbelt for its people and sense of community. The successful person will want to be part of a progressive team of an organisation that is making a difference in regional WA and wants to help lead those changes. An attractive remuneration package within the range $149,100 & $171,400 including motor vehicle, subsidised housing and other benefits will be negotiated with successful applicant. Applications close: 4.00pm, Wednesday 10th July 2024. For additional information regarding this vacancy, applicants are encouraged to contact Sam Dolzadelli, Chief Executive Officer on (08) 9671 2500 or by email [email protected] Visit:

📢 MEDIA RELEASE - APPOINTMENT OF NEW CEO 📢 After 16½ years, Stuart Taylor made the decision to announce his retirement as CEO in March, finishing later this week. Stuart leaves a legacy of leadership, direction, knowledge, enthusiasm and dedication from his 16 ½ years serving the Shire of Wongan-Ballidu. We wish Stuart all the very best for his retirement and the next chapter. We thank him for his energy, professionalism and governance that he has brought to our Shire. Following many weeks of thorough recruitment processes, the Shire President and Councillors have appointed a new CEO with a vision of continuing on our path towards future growth. The Shire of Wongan-Ballidu is delighted to announce the appointment of Sam Dolzadelli as the new Chief Executive Officer, effective from Monday 10 June 2024. Council is pleased that Sam has stepped up after 2 years serving the Shire as Deputy CEO. Sam has demonstrated a strong financial knowledge and background, with his leadership and enthusiasm to continue in the appointed role of CEO. So it is time, as Stuart passes the baton to Sam, for the next age of dedication, commitment and service to our community within the Shire of Wongan-Ballidu and we look ahead towards a strong future for all! Cr Mandy Stephenson Shire President