Sally Capp

So you see some impact, whereas maybe sometimes people who are sitting in a ministry in a big government think, God, did I make any difference?

Well, speaking about that connection with cities and its residents, let's hear now from Sally Capp, former Lord Mayor of Melbourne, asked the same question, whether she likes her job.

Absolutely loved it.

I highly recommend it.

But the sense of purpose and connection and the ability to make an impact and make a difference, it's intoxicating.

and when people go into it for the right reasons and they genuinely care about issues and i think don't go into being an elected representative unless you feel really passionate about something because you're going to need that passion to keep driving through the frustrations but if you feel really strongly about a positive difference you can make in your community then definitely put your hand up to be an elected representative because we need you

Sally Capp, the former Lord Mayor of Melbourne.

Andrew, what I found interesting about what she says about sort of you need people who are genuine about it.

My thanks to Enrique Penalosa.

Now, our final former mayor on the programme today is Sally Capp, who was the Lord Mayor of Melbourne from 2018 to 2024.

Sally led the city through the global pandemic and was one of the key drivers behind Melbourne's post-COVID economic recovery.

Sally is also instrumental in encouraging density back into the sprawling city landscape that is Melbourne.

And when people go into it for the right reasons and they genuinely care about issues, and I think don't go into being an elected representative unless you feel really passionate about something because you're going to need that passion to keep driving through the frustrations.

But if you feel really strongly about a positive difference you can make in your community, then definitely put your hand up to be an elected representative because we need you.

My thanks there to Sally Capp.

One of the concepts we always like to explore here on The Urbanist is the idea of human-centric design.

Here's a woman who, you know, While many people love what she's done to the city, many people were opposed to it.

But I spoke to her and also to Sally Capp, the former mayor of Melbourne, about what it means to do public service.

And even if you get bruised, do you walk away thinking it was a good thing to do? And they're both tough women.

They both said that even of all the arrows shot their way, of all the critiques, that they in the end believed they were doing the right thing and that they both believed that they had left their cities better than they were in the first place.

even though it is nothing to do with a local government.

Sally Capp was the mayor, then Nick Rees her deputy.

Last night there was debate and voting on a motion to change that position.

Councillor Philip Leeloo was moving a motion to recognise the date as Australia's National Day in line with state and federal governments.

No, that's not quite right.

My personal view, which I voted in support of back in 2022, is that the City of Melbourne should advocate for changing the date, which we attempt to do.

The then Lord Mayor Sally Capp wrote a letter off to the Prime Minister and the Premier saying, can you please change the date? Last night we had, and acknowledged by Council, that in fact 26th of January is our National Day.

That is set by the Australian government and we have asked management here at the City of Melbourne to look at options for how we mark the date.