Councillors

Since being elected to the West Tamar as both Councillor and Mayor, my priority and focus has been to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the community, to represent and promote your best interests and to ensure order and good governance of Council and in the community.

Since being elected as Mayor, I have given my full-time commitment to continue as I have in the previous four years and I will take every opportunity to make where we live an even better place.

DELEGATIONS: Youth Advisory Committee, Emergency Management Committee, ANZAC Day Committee, NTDC Council Representative.

• Phone: 0417 804 210
• Email: cholmdahl.wtc@bigpond.com
• Address: PO Box 100, Exeter TAS 7275

Rick has been your councillor since 2007 and is the current Deputy Mayor. Rick and has two children in their 20s and lives at Trevallyn. Rick grew up in Exeter on a farm, went to Exeter Primary and Riverside High Schools then Launceston College. He participated in local sporting clubs when he was younger and is the current Patron of the Exeter Cricket club. He continues his involvement with the community by attending events with the West Tamar Landcare group and is the council rep of the Rowella Hall committee, which he has done for six years.

Rick is a paramedic with a Degree in paramedicine, a Graduate Certificate in management and a Diploma in Emergency Management.

Rick is an experienced councillor which is important for good governance and good leadership. Rick wants to make your Council become more contemporary and inclusive, with increased community participation and consultation when making decisions.

DELEGATIONS: Riverside Swimming Centre Redevelopment Advisory Committee, Winkleigh Hall Committee (proxy), Rowella Hall Committee, NRM North, Tamar Natural Resource Management Inc.

• Phone: 0418 393 909
• Email: rickshegog@bigpond.com
• Address: Riverside TAS 7250

I am an active member of our community and Council, I have been a councillor for 17 years, eight of these as Deputy Mayor.

I give proven full-time leadership and commitment to address your needs. We need to work together to build a strong healthy community. All essential services need to be delivered equally throughout our WT community including appropriate infrastructure.

I have past experience in Community Development, Youth, health and welfare. I am the current chair of both the Exeter Childcare Centre & Beaconsfield Health & Wellbeing Association. I am a community member of the Tamar Valley Business Association, the northern advisory committee & Exeter Improvement committee.

DELEGATIONS: Positive Ageing Committee, Youth Advisory Committee, Rowella Hall Committee (proxy).

• Phone: 0429 831 611
• Email: jallen.wtc@bigpond.com
• Address: Beauty Point TAS 7270

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve and represent you as one of your local government councillors. I am married to Andrea and with our family love living in the West Tamar.

Effective and independent representation is vital for our council to continue to deliver quality services across our municipality. With your support and input, I will continue to ensure we keep our local council healthy and well
positioned for the future.

If I can help you in any way, please reach out.

DELEGATIONS: Winkleigh Hall Committee, Youth Advisory Council.

• Phone: 0418 991 229
• Email: lyndencferguson@gmail.com
• Address: Riverside TAS 7250

Now into my third term, I continue to work hard with integrity and competence for our ratepayers. I have the energy and vision to make West Tamar an even better place to live, work and visit. I am always available to listen to ratepayer concerns and do my best to find resolutions as I believe every member of the community has a right to be heard.

My engineering background and business experience puts me in a good position to understand technical, planning and financial issues. I am politically independent and believe Council should be there for the whole
community. West Tamar is a fast-growing community and I will endeavour to ensure that growth is well managed.

DELEGATIONS: Riverside Swimming Centre Redevelopment Advisory Committee, Exeter Community Hub Management Committee, TasWater Deputy Chief Owners Representative.

• Phone: 0418 825 001
• Email: richardireland@bigpond.com
• Address: Lanena TAS 7275

Work secretary Beaconsfield Hospital; business manager LGH; head of office to the Attorney General; MHR 2010- 13: chair Procedures Committee, member Health and Ageing Committee, Agriculture, Resources, Fisheries and Forestry, Privileges and M’s Interests; Speakers Panel; chair of the Australian Parliamentary Friends of Surf Life Saving; chair of the Caucus Economics Committee. Volunteer president of the NTFA and NTNA, life member SLSA, SLST, LLSC, NLFC; OAM. I have contributed by supporting many projects on the West Tamar.

DELEGATIONS: Riverside Swimming Centre Redevelopment Advisory Committee, Emergency Management Committee.

• Phone: 0400 233 883
• Email: geoff.lyons@outlook.com
• Address: Riverside TAS 7250

Over the past 12 months, I’ve had the privilege of serving our community as a dedicated councillor, committed to driving positive change in our community.

I want to express my gratitude to our residents for their support and trust. It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m deeply thankful for the opportunity to represent your interests. Together, we’ve made strides in creating a more vibrant, inclusive, and prosperous community.

As we continue to work together, I’m excited about the future and the potential for even greater accomplishments.

DELEGATIONS: Audit Panel.

• Phone: 0427 818 050
• Email: jcm.wtc@gmail.com
• Address: Greens Beach TAS 7270

Since being elected to West Tamar Council in 2022, I have worked hard to listen to residents and ensure community views and concerns are heard in Council decision-making. I believe good local government is about getting the basics right, spending wisely, planning sensibly and creating a community where people of all ages can thrive.

With more than 25 years’ experience as a doctor, I bring a common-sense, problem-solving approach to Council. I am always happy to hear from residents, discuss concerns and work to find practical solutions for our community.

DELEGATIONS: Exeter Community Hub Management Committee; Audit Panel; PAC; General Manager Evaluation Committee.

• Phone: 0427 637 081
• Email: drjuliesladden@gmail.com
• Address: Legana TAS 7277

With more than 30 years in community advocacy, small business management, and advocacy for innovative funding models in local and state government, I bring a wealth of expertise to my role as Councillor.

In this position, I commit to:
– Being accessible and approachable to all residents,
– Representing your interests with unwavering transparency and integrity,
– Serving as a strong advocate for meaningful community consultation, and
– Prioritising practical and cost-effective solutions that deliver real results.

As a former registered nurse, I apply my skills in active listening to truly understand people’s concerns, focusing on uncovering root causes rather than relying on superficial fixes.

I am a passionate advocate for creating a publicly owned post office bank that leverages the Australia Post network for seamless customer service by consolidating essential services under one roof. State-owned insurance offices housed in Post Offices would also serve the people well.

This initiative could fund major infrastructure like TasWater outside annual budgets; provide loans to small business, boosting productive sector jobs; for local availability of cash and deposit accounts; with bank profits returned to the community for public housing and aged care and other needed facilities.

• Phone: 0427 256 616
• Email: caroline.larner@live.com.au