MCKINLAY Shire Council's first female mayor Belinda Murphy says she is looking forward to leading the shire into the future with a fresh team of councillors.
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All of McKinlay's current councillors will retire at the upcoming local government elections.
"It's great because they've [incoming councillors] all put their hands up because they're passionate about the shire," she said.
"Obviously it's sad to lose the entire old council but we'll move forwards."
Though the poll is still more than two weeks away, Mrs Murphy is unopposed in her bid for the mayoralty and will take over from outgoing mayor Paul Woodhouse on April 28.
She said she decided to run for mayor at the behest of her friends and neighbours.
"A few people around the community approached me," she said.
"The more people started to suggest it to me the more I started to think about it."
Mrs Murphy first came to Queensland from her home in Tasmania in 1999 when she took a job as a pilot at Strathmore Station.
Since then, she has worked at a number of stations throughout the North West including Rocklands at Camooweal and Iffley and Kynuna stations, flying for McDonald Holdings and the North Australian Pastoral Company (NAPCO).
After moving to Julia Creek in 2004, she first worked as branch manager for Queensland Country Credit Union before taking a role with council as the manager for corporate and community services.
She said her council background as would help her with her new job as mayor.
"I've got a good understanding of how council works but I won't be on the operational side of things anymore I'll be strategic," she said.
Mrs Murphy has also worked as an external consultant to the council.
She said her first focus as mayor would be to improve the liveability of the shire.
"We need to focus on the shire itself and make sure that residents and local businesses are going to be able to keep going," she said.
"Service provision is a big part of that; we need to make sure our residents are getting all the services they need.
"It's a great safe, secure environment here to raise kids but we need to make sure people can live here without having to sacrifice their access to services."
Before Mrs Murphy takes on the role of mayor, she will be tackling another McKinlay Shire institution - the Dirt n Dust triathlon.
She will compete in the run leg of the race as part of a team nicknamed the Breast Friends, raising money for breast screening services in the Outback.
Councillor elections for the McKinlay Shire will be held April 28.
Neil Walker, David Heslin, Anthony Batt, Philip Curr, Edwina Hick and Tanya Parry are vying for four council positions.