KINGSTON councillor Georgina Oxley has been appointed mayor for a fourth time.
Cr Oxley first served as mayor in 2018/2019, followed by a second term in 2019/2020. She was elected the first mayor of the new Kingston Council last November, and last Wednesday was re-elected for a second consecutive term in charge.
Cr Oxley was elected with the support of Crs Jane Agirtan, Caroline White, Sarah O’Donnell, Georgia Erevnidis, and Chris Howe. Cr Tony Athanasopoulos was also nominated to be mayor but was narrowly defeated; his candidacy was supported by Crs Chris Hill, Tess Law, Kirralee Ashworth-Collett, and Hadi Saab.
It has been a tumultuous 12 months for the Kingston Council elected in November 2024 – the state government has appointed two monitors to report on the behaviour and conduct of the councillors. Before last Wednesday’s mayoral election, Oxley said “this year has not been without its challenges, and I want to sincerely thank all of those who have chosen to focus on solutions, working together and being united in being the best Kingston we can be.”
After her re-election, Oxley said “it’s a real privilege to once again serve as mayor of Kingston.”
“Over the past year, we’ve worked hard as a team to lay the foundations for Kingston’s future – adopting a new Council and Wellbeing Plan, putting cost-of-living support at the heart of our budget, and delivering a huge range of projects that make a real difference in people’s lives,” she said. “It’s been a year of learning, teamwork and listening. I’m proud of how this council has come together with a shared focus on serving our community and shaping a positive future for Kingston.
“We’ll keep standing up for our community on major issues like the state’s new planning reforms, the Suburban Rail Loop, level crossing projects and significant development proposals such as Kingswood and Rossdale. Our community deserves a voice in how their neighbourhoods grow and change, and I’ll continue to ensure that Kingston’s voice is heard loud and clear.”
Oxley thanked outgoing deputy mayor, Cr Chris Howe, saying “thank you for your ongoing support, your level head, different perspectives and ongoing conversation. It’s been a pleasure working with you as our Kingston leadership team.”
Cr Sarah O’Donnell has been appointed the new deputy mayor. Cr Athanasopoulos also nominated for this position, with the votes falling the same way as they did for the mayoral election.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 19 November 2025