Last week, retiring mayor of Campbelltown George Greiss added to his considerable legacy by announcing council would host pre-election forums for candidates.
On Tuesday night he revealed a prestigious new award – the Shield of Macarthur – would honour individuals who have significantly contributed to the region’s development and unity.
It would also reflect their role in the growth and cohesion of Macarthur.
“This award will celebrate and strengthen the connections fostered through the Macarthur Alliance,’’ he said, referring to the informal but important unity ticket between him and the mayors of Camden and Wollondilly since January 2022.
“In an unprecedented show of unity and commitment, I, along with my fellow mayors of the Macarthur region, have been working collectively over the past two and a half years to advocate for the development and prosperity of our communities,’’ he told the council meeting.
“This collaborative effort, known as the Macarthur Alliance, represents a significant milestone in regional cooperation.
“The Macarthur Alliance is unique in its formation and operation, built not on a formal memorandum of understanding but rather on a foundation of mutual respect and shared vision,’’ Cr Greiss said.
“This approach has allowed us to work together more fluidly and effectively, prioritising the needs and aspirations of our respective communities.
“The strength of the Macarthur Alliance lies in our mutual respect and commitment to the region.’’
Mayor Greiss said he, Wollondilly’s Matt Gould and Camden’s Ashleigh Cagney had come together for the Macarthur Alliance not out of obligation, but out of a shared vision for the future of Macarthur.
“This collaboration allows us to advocate more powerfully for the infrastructure, services, and development our communities need,’’ he said.
“The Macarthur Alliance exemplifies what can be achieved when leaders put aside individual agendas and party affiliation to work together for the greater good.
“We are proud of what we have accomplished so far and are excited about the future projects and initiatives that will benefit our communities.’’
As for the Shield of Macarthur award, Cr Greiss said nominees must come from one of the mayors – and approved by all three.
The award will be administered by Campbelltown City Council, in what he said would be a fair and transparent process.
“The Shield of Macarthur is our way of recognising and celebrating those who have made outstanding contributions to our region.
“It will be a symbol of our appreciation and a testament to the enduring spirit of collaboration within the Macarthur community,’’ he said.
Mayor Greiss said the Alliance is focused on key areas such as infrastructure development, economic growth, and community wellbeing.
“By leveraging our collective voice, we aim to secure more significant investment and support from state and federal governments,’’ he said.
The quicker the government realises their future could be dependent on the continued support by the people of the Macarthur region as the area already makes a great contribution to the Minns government majority the better.
Also, it will have many more electorates as the area is one of the fastest growing in the nation.
When I stood for the electorate of Campbelltown in 1969 the boundaries of the electorate took in the all the areas of all the electorates of the sitting members.