Mayor of Singleton, Sue Moore has received one of the highest honours in local government after taking out the prestigious Minister-selected Councillor Lilliane Brady OAM Award at the NSW Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government.
Singleton Council was also recognised for supporting women’s participation, progression and leadership by receiving the Excellence in Gender Equity Award for initiatives including the Sharon Hutch Memorial Scholarship which provides a $3,000 scholarship to a female employee for professional development opportunities, and the Reproductive Health Procedure providing inclusive leave entitlements and workplace adjustments to support a wide range of needs for women and men.
Co-hosted by Minister for Local Government, Ron Hoenig and Minister for Women, Jodie Harrison and announced at NSW Parliament House, the Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government celebrate the women leading, innovating, and making a lasting difference in councils and communities across New South Wales.
Sue said it was an incredible moment to receive the Councillor Lilliane Brady OAM Award as Singleton navigated a significant state of transition.
The award honours the legacy of the late Councillor Lilliane Brady OAM, the state’s longest-serving female mayor and a strong advocate for women in local government, and is selected directly by the Minister for Local Government.
First elected to Council in 1999, Sue became Singleton’s first female mayor as elected by her peers, and the first female mayor by popular vote. She has served three consecutive terms as mayor since 2016.
“It’s an enormous privilege to represent the people of Singleton. But it’s one that I don’t take for granted, because not so long ago, opportunities like this were simply not available to many women,” Sue said.
“This award is a wonderful reminder of why I chose to serve in the first place—because of the people who make our community the special place it is. Whether it’s helping solve a local issue, planning for the long-term future of our community, or getting the best outcome for the Singleton Bypass by making sure our community had input into the route and getting the Deputy Premier at the time to commit to a full interchange to best access our main street and support our local businesses, I’m proud of everything we have achieved for our community. As Singleton continues to grow and evolve, I’m committed to protecting all that makes our community special: our strong sense of connection, our resilience and our country town spirit.”
The Excellence in Gender Equity Award is presented to a council that is creating inclusive workplaces and supporting women’s participation, progression and leadership.
Acting General Manager at Singleton Council, Mel Curtis said it was wonderful recognition for an organisation that was committed to supporting its people to be their best through a range of initiatives and programs.
“We’re proud to have an inclusive and equitable workplace that empowers our people to succeed, supports work-life balance, and provides opportunities for professional growth and career development,” Mel said.
“That includes putting the health, safety and wellbeing of our staff at the forefront, and leading the way as one of the first councils to introduce a Reproductive Health Procedure. As our organisation is undergoing a period of renewal with the recruitment of a new general manager, this Award is a timely reinforcement that what won’t change is our commitment to our people and to helping our staff be the best that they can be.”
IMAGE | Singleton Council Acting General Manager Mel Curtis and Singleton Mayor Cr Sue Moore (centre) accepting the Excellence in Gender Equity Award from Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig and Minister for Women Jodie Harrison.
