Six women and three men were elected to represent the NSW Far South Coast, up from four women in the previous term – and only one the term before that.

Conversely, neighbouring Eurobodalla is a lot further down the list, with seven men and two women elected. 

Bega and Eurobodalla, as well as Shoalhaven and Shellharbour City a little further north, all now have female mayors.

For Bega Valley, it’s only the second time.

Mayor Kristy McBain said she did not think gender made much of a difference.

“I hope we can work well together as a team and move forward with positive thinking for the whole shire,” Cr McBain said.

In Shoalhaven, Greens councillor Amanda Findley was popularly elected to the mayoral role.

Cr Findley was first elected to Shoalhaven Council in 2008, when she was only one of two women. She said “the worm turned” at the following election, with the imbalance heading in the opposite direction.

Now she is one of six women sitting alongside seven men representing the council’s three wards.

“I’ve lived through a few iterations of council and I can say unequivocally that Local Government NSW has a strong view to look at gender equity within local government,” Cr Findley said.

“[But] it’s not so much about gender, as much as what the community looks like.”

While reiterating that gender was not a big factor in representation, Cr McBain said female mayors along the South Coast would provide some “interesting dynamics”.