Changes lift Casey

Rebecca Fraser
SOME new blood has been injected into Casey Council following Saturday’s elections.
Four Oaks Ward councillor Roland Abraham and Brechin ward councillor Angela Dunleavy were ousted but councillors Rob Wilson, Colin Butler, Mick Morland, Kevin Bradford, Lorraine Wreford and Wayne Smith were returned.
Cr Wilson, who was named deputymayor on Monday night, will now share Four Oaks Ward with one of his most outspoken critics, head of the Endeavour Hills Community Watchdog group Paul Richardson.
Cr Mick Morland easily won a seat in Edrington Ward and Balla Balla Cr Colin Butler romped home in the only singleseat ward.
Mayfield Ward voters returned new Casey mayor Kevin Bradford to his seat and also elected former councillor Steve Beardon.
Cr Beardon was elected in the 2002 elections but only lasted 37 days after resigning under a cloud of controversy.
Former president of the Berwick RSL, Brian Hetherton, polled well in Edrington Ward to take up the second seat with former mayor Mick Morland.
New face Michael Farley won the second seat in Springfield Ward, which he will now share with Cr Wreford.
Former mayor Janet Halsall also staged a successful comeback to council leading the vote over her River Gum counterpart Wayne Smith.