Temora Shire Mayor Rick Firman OAM has announced he will not seek re-election as Chairman of the Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) at the peak body’s Annual General Meeting on Friday 13 November. “I am proud of the runs we’ve put on the board, the relationships we have built and strengthened, and the genuine camaraderie we feel when our CMA family comes together,” he said.
Mayor Firman has served as Chairman for the last two years, plus three months as Acting Chairman, two years as Deputy Chairman and a further two years on the Board. “Having been unanimously elected by my fellow Mayors and General Managers from across our CMA NSW footprint is a profound honour. Alongside a dedicated Board and terrific Staff, I have woken up every single day, reflecting on what we can do for our 89 rural, remote and regional member Councils, to make a positive difference. We haven’t won every battle, however, we’ve given our all. My Deputy Chairman, Mayor Russell Fitzpatrick (Bega Valley Shire) and I have worked closely together, and I appreciate his extra efforts,” he said.
“Our Board have been fantastic, and very generous with their time. CMA Secretary Ms Melissa Boxall, Policy Advisor Mrs Julie Briggs and Secretariat Mr Gary Fry have really given their all, for which I’m most grateful,” he said.
Mayor Firman expressed his pride in how the CMA has grown (politically), what they have built on and achieved in recent years, with some of those wins including: the establishment of the Premier’s Rural Remote and Regional Advisory Council (which he has co-Chaired with the Premier); lobbying, alongside LGNSW, ALGA, the USU and Member Councils for the restoration of Financial Assistance Grants to one-percent of national taxation revenue; the introduction of an excelling Councils segment at quarterly CMA meetings and a dedicated Policy Advisor role; enhanced relationships with all sides of politics; hosted dinners with eminent Australians including current and former Prime Ministers, the NSW Premier, NSW Governor, former Governor-General, NSW Police Commissioner while also enjoying fellowship with peers; contributed to the successful campaign for the NSW RFS vehicles (referred to as the Red Fleet) to come under State Government ownership; secured a seat on the IPART Council Reference Group; successfully lobbied the NSW Opposition to introduce a stand-alone Coalition portfolio for Local Government, revised the CMA constitution and introduced Patrons to honour outstanding contributors.
“The Board will host some important events for our member councils in November; our last for 2026 and my last as Chairman,” said Mayor Firman. “NSW Environment Minister The Hon Penny Sharpe’s team and EPA representatives will conduct a workshop for our members on FOGO (Food Organics and Garden Organics) in NSW Parliament House on Thursday 12 November. Our Premier The Hon Chris Minns MP will be our special guest speaker for our dinner function that evening. We will honour our third Patron at the dinner, in long-serving former Moree Plains Shire Mayor Katrina Humphries, who served four years as Chairman of the CMA.”
“We will have a pre-election State Political Leaders Forum on Friday 13 November, with News 24 Political Editor, Mr Andrew Clennell to MC and scheduled participants to be NSW Opposition and Liberals Leader, Ms Kellie Sloane MP; NSW Nationals Leader Mr Gurmesh Singh MP; The Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional New South Wales, Minister for Western New South Wales, the Hon Tara Moriarty, MLC; and Dr. Amanda Cohn MLC for the Greens.”
“The Board have also scheduled a timely water policy segment, with our guest speakers being NSW Water Minister, The Hon Rose Jackson MLC; NSW Shadow Water Minister, Ms Steph Cooke MP; and Member for Murray, Mrs Helen Dalton MP.”
“The AGM will see biennial voting for our Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Board positions. We are seeing strong interest for these important roles, which is very encouraging.”
Mayor Firman will remain on the Board for the new two-year term, as the immediate past Chairman.
“I’m content that we’ve done our very best for our CMA family,” he said. “I look forward to supporting the new Chairman and Board to ensure we continue to build a strong voice for our cherished rural, remote and regional communities.
Caption: General the Hon. Sir Peter Cosgrove AK AC (Mil) CVO MC (Ret) with CMA Chairman, Temora Shire Mayor Rick Firman OAM at a CMA reception earlier this year.