CARDINIA Shire has an all-male council following the weekend’s election.

The only woman candidate, Kate Lempriere, bows out, and the other five women who stood – Catherine Manning, Kate Hands, Tracy Montgomery, Gloria O’Connor and Linda Hamilton – also attracted too few votes to survive.

In neighbouring Casey the story is different, with a record five women to take their place in the 11-member council.

Casey is one of only a couple of councils with five women, following the 2008 poll.

Casey voters returned finance broker Lorraine Wreford in Springfield Ward for another term. The other four successful female candidates will be first-time Casey councillors.

Volunteer and family carer Shar Balmes, with Karen Baxter, will tip the gender in Four Oaks Ward, where voters threw out Paul Richardson and Rob Wilson.

Amanda Stapleton sets some gender balance in Mayfield, where the voting system returned the person currently under an investigation for breach of the council’s code of conduct, Kevin Bradford.

In River Gum Ward, mother and carer Lynette Keleher for the Greens will balance the gender with returning councillor Wayne Smith, who shared the ward with former mayor Janet Halsall.

Speaking after the Cardinia result on Monday, Ms Lempriere said that while democracy had spoken, Cardinia Shire would be at a disadvantage without a female at the council table.

“The one thing I am disappointed about is that there are no women,” she said. “Women give a different approach, a different perspective, not better nor worse, just different.

“I would have liked to have seen Catherine (Manning) or Kate (Hands) there because it would have given a bit of balance. They would have been a great asset to this council.

“I am concerned about the arts. I was the only one who championed the arts. The men are into sport, sport, sport.”

Gloria O’Connor, who ran for Bunyip Ward, agreed it was a shame the voters elected no women.

“It’s a pity that of seven councillors there isn’t a capable female, from the public’s perspective,” she said.

Catherine Manning, who ran for Port Ward, said there were plenty of quality female candidates on Cardinia’s ballot papers.

“I’m disappointed there’s not one female at least to represent Cardinia’s population,” she said.

“At this time in 2008, I would have expected a couple of females to be elected onto council. It’s important to have balance.”

“The council has the potential to be seen as a boys’ club, but let’s hope they prove us wrong.”

http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/67487