New leadership for Broome Shire Council

Published on 03 April 2023

Cr Desiree Male has been elected Broome Shire President at a Special Meeting of Council held on Friday afternoon, following the standing down of Cr Harold Tracey from the role.

Cr Chris Mitchell was elected Deputy Shire President. 

Cr Male, who has served on Council since 2009 and has been Deputy Shire President since 2017, will be Shire President until this year’s council election on October 21, when a popularly elected Shire President will be appointed for the first time.

Cr Male, who runs an accountancy and finance practise in Broome, seemed destined to take on this role. Her grandfather, pearling industry pioneer, the late Sam Male was a Freeman of the Shire and Broome's first Shire President, and her father Kim Male is also a former Shire President and Freeman. 

“Three generations in local government with my grandfather for over 30 years, my father for over 30 years and now I’ve been here for 14 years, so it’s definitely in our blood."

She thanked both the Broome community and her fellow Councillors for their support, saying she is “humbled by their unanimous support”.

"I look forward to working with the council, staff and community to continue delivering on our vision for Broome as a vibrant, prosperous and inclusive place to live, work and visit," she said.

New Deputy Shire President Cr Chris Mitchell has been on council for more than 30 years, having been first elected in 1992.

Cr Mitchell was last year named 2022 Broome Senior Citizen of the Year for his decades of service to the town through three decades on council and years of volunteering at the Broome Native Animal Rescue organisation, Men’s Shed and Lions Club.

Photo courtesy of ABC Kimberley