Tara Murray
Outgoing Brimbank chief executive Helen Morrissey says her decision to leave the council is bittersweet.
Ms Morrissey retires from the council on July 15, after almost 40 years in local government and 11 years at Brimbank.
Ms Morrissey said there had been a lot of changes since she first joined the council as a general manager. She become chief executive in 2017.
“There were two lots of administrators and two lots of councillors,” she said.
“We had an extremely long time with administrators and then with the new council in 2016.
“Although a lot of things have changed, a lot of things have stayed the same.
“The best intentions to improve the community are still at the heart of it.”
Ms Morrissey said that when she joined the council, she was confident that Brimbank could really become something.
“I came from Maribyrnong and had seen the change that happened and I’ve always said [change] follows the train line,” she said.
“The people I was working with had the vision of the leadership we had at that time which was very much around the whole idea of Sunshine being the capital of Melbourne’s west and that has evolved over that time.
“The idea of the community and civic centre at Hampshire Road and having satellite community hubs at St Albans, Deer Park, Keilor and Sydenham were envisaged at that time.
“You see the before and after pictures of St Albans and Sunshine. You wouldn’t believe the changes that have happened there.
“There has been a commitment from the council – whether administrators or councillors – to continue to improve the feel and the look of the city.”
Ms Morrissey said the past 18 months during the COVID-19 pandemic have been the hardest of her professional career.
She said while it was difficult ensuring the community and the 1100 people working for the council were looked after, she said the way in which the council handled the pandemic was one of her proudest moments.
While Ms Morrissey is stepping away from her role at the council, she said Brimbank remains an important part of her life.
She said she would watch on with a slight touch of sadness, as many of the projects she has played a major role in come to fruition, like the St Albans Health and Wellbeing Hub.
“I spend a lot of time in Brimbank,” she said.
“I shop in Brimbank and I’ve got people that I’ve met over the last 10 years who I have become friends with.
“I’ll always keep Brimbank close, it’s just a place that gets under your skin.
“I’ll miss the people. I love their passion for the community, bunch of real go-getters, they want the best for the community, I’ll miss my team.”
