To the residents of Darebin and beyond,

I have not been re-elected to Darebin Council and will no longer serve as your Mayor or local Councillor.

Serving as your Councillor for the past eight years has been an extraordinary privilege, and leading Darebin as Mayor this past year has been the greatest honour of my life.
When I became Mayor, my son Bryn was just 13 months old. Together, we’ve shown that a mother of a young child can lead a city while inspiring others to pursue leadership at any stage of life.

In my time on Council, we achieved incredible milestones for our community. We declared the world’s first climate emergency, built Australia’s first indoor-outdoor gas-free aquatic centre, the Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre, and led groundbreaking initiatives like VECO—the largest emissions reduction project by local government in Australia.

We reimagined what inclusive government looks like, becoming the second council to cease celebrating January 26 and pioneering trans and gender-diverse swim nights. Darebin also became the first city to achieve “Excelling” status from Welcoming Cities for its support of diverse communities.

Our advocacy delivered tangible results, like the removal of additional level crossings in Preston and the creation of new community housing on council land. I’m proud of these achievements and grateful to have helped shape Darebin into a leader in sustainability, inclusion, and progressive governance.

However, this election has ushered in a more conservative Darebin Council. I had hoped for continued progress on active transport, infrastructure investment in Preston, and full implementation of the Climate Emergency Plan. These goals remain crucial, and I encourage residents to hold Councillors accountable and advocate for the issues you care about.

Unfortunately, this campaign was marked by unprecedented negativity. A coordinated and well-resourced smear campaign targeted my character and reputation, which undermined my progressive record and ultimately contributed to a more conservative Council.

Despite these challenges, I leave with my head held high, proud of the work we’ve accomplished. As George Washington says to Alexander Hamilton, “Winning is easy, young man, governing is harder.”

To the newly elected Council: congratulations. You have an opportunity to shape Darebin’s future. We’ll be watching, and we’ll hold you accountable to our community’s values.

To everyone who supported me—thank you. Your belief in our vision made it all worthwhile.

This is not goodbye; it’s just the next chapter. Let’s continue building a better Darebin together.

With gratitude,
Susanne