Thank You Mark Bennett

After eight years service as a Councillor and three years as our Mayor, Council and the community pay tribute to Mark Bennett. 

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“Our Mayor Mark has been a great advocate for the community. He has led the Council with compassion, dignity and empathy. I wish to thank Mayor Bennett for his support, respect shown to the Team at Hunters Hill and appreciation of the work undertaken by the staff at Hunter’s Hill Council.”

Lisa Miscamble – Hunter’s Hill Council General Manager

“Congratulations to Mayor Mark Bennett on leading Hunter’s Hill Council so successfully for the past three years. It has been my pleasure to work with Mark on a number of important new initiatives in our region. His innovative but measured approach was an important ingredient of his success. However, above all, I have personally appreciated his friendly and collaborative dealings with his “neighbour” here in Lane Cove.

It has been exciting to collaborate with Mark in forging some new partnerships between Hunters Hill and Lane Cove councils around library services, road safety and open space services. These projects have improved future outcomes for residents of both areas while delivering cost improvements to each. That’s a rare achievement!

Mark also served as a representative on NSROC, an important policy-making organisation representing eight local councils in the Northern Sydney region. Mark worked with all the local mayors to advocate for important regional priorities such as waste management, provision of sporting fields, transport, social infrastructure, planning and development.

So I feel very fortunate that Mark and I were able to share a time together as mayors in such a good working relationship. It has been a busy and productive time and I will always value his friendship.

I wish Mark all the best for the future.”

Pam Palmer – Mayor of Lane Cove

“Mark has made a valuable contribution to Hunters Hill and beyond with his participation and support of NSROC. Many thanks for being a genuine advocate for the best interests of community.”

Gail Giles-Gidney –  Mayor of Willoughby 

“Mark has brought calm determination, great empathy and accessibility to the role of Councillor and Mayor. Being a Mayor is one of the toughest jobs in town but he has shown how it can done effectively and respectfully. It has been a pleasure to work with Mark and to jointly score some goals for the wonderful Hunters Hill community.”

Trent Zimmerman MP – Member for North Sydney 

“Mark Bennett has been foremost, a kind-hearted and selfless representative of the people. Mark is a man of integrity and honour, representing a civic ideal to which public servants can aspire.

We are also incredibly fortunate to have had Mark’s commercial experience. Embodying good governance, Mark has overseen a dramatic transformation in the culture of Hunter’s Hill Council, which I have witnessed become a more creative and productive administration.”

The Hon Anthony Roberts MP – Member for Lane Cove 

“Our Mayor Mark was always welcoming, kind and supportive of our efforts to encourage community. Thank you Mark for your time in this role. We will miss you.”

The Happy Hens social enterprise

“Our Mayor Mark has been a tremendous blessing! We give thanks for his willingness to listen, consult and act. He is a person of integrity and compassion. Thank you for the gift of your time and your many talents. We will miss you in this role, and pray for you in your next.”

Rev’d Michael Armstrong & Anglican Parish of Hunters Hill

“Our Mayor Mark has been a wonderful supporter of the Hunters Hill community, and especially of the Hunters Hill Sailing Club. Thank you Mayor for your hard work and dedication to service – we are all enriched by your contribution.”

Chris Stannage

“Dear Mark,
On behalf of my family I wish to thank you for your service over the past 8 years, we wish you all the best for your future .
Regards,
Peter and Maria Maniscalco

“Mayor Mark has been a great asset to Hunters Hill. His acumen and clarity on all matters that I have observed have been excellent and he will definitely be missed.
I send best wishes to he and Lydia for the future.”

Ron Kaplan

“Our Mayor Mark has always had the best interests of the Hunters Hill Municipality and its people at heart and this has been reflected in the service that Mayor Bennett has given over the last 8 years and particularly as Mayor during the last 3 years, overseeing many community projects and improvements.
Thank you Mayor Bennett for your care, guidance and communication that you have always extended to the community and especially during this extraordinary time of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is much appreciated.
On behalf of the Hunters Hill RSL Sub-Branch Committee and as a resident, I would like to say THANK YOU and we wish you all the best for your future endeavours.”

Kind regards,
Belinda Allen – Hunters Hill RSL Sub-Branch

“Our Mayor Mark has always been interested in the history and heritage of our municipality. He has taken a keen interest in matters and proceedings of the Hunters Hill Historical Society and the Museum for which we are grateful.”

Anthony Saunders

“Thank you Mark for your tireless work within our community and being a fantastic friend to the Hunters Hill Junior Rugby Club. We very much appreciate your support through your tenure and wish you all the very best in your future endeavours.”

Paul van der Westhuizen – Hunters Hill Rugby

“Mark played an important role in the battle to maintain our independence as a Municipality, and strongly supported the community during his time on Council, as a Councillor and then Mayor.
The last year has been tough particularly with COVID. Thank you for the time, effort and care you have shown in dealing with this and the many other issues. Our best wishes to you and Lydia for the future.”

Phil Jenkyn OAM – Save Hunters Hill Municipality Coalition

“Our Mayor, Mark Bennett, has done a great job and has served our community well. I extend every best wish for the future.”

Richard Quinn

“Our Mayor Mark has always been an advocate for the elderly and those less privileged in our community. He is generous with his time and genuinely listens. He is respectful, fair and a good bloke.”

Gary Bird

Clr Bennett announced at a Council meeting on 24 August that he would not to continue for an additional year in the role, as local council elections originally scheduled for September 2020 have been postponed for 12 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Council will hold an extraordinary meeting on 9 September to elect a Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the period up until the next local government election, scheduled for 4 September 2021.

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