Our Councillors

The Council is a body of nine members who are elected to carry out duties under the provisions of the Local Government Act and Regulations.

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor are elected for a two year period by the members of the Council. The Mayor, as well as chairing the Council meetings, represents Council when it is not in session.

The elected body is supported by a team of Council staff who are responsible for bringing the policies and changes into effect.

Listed below are the contact details for each individual Councillor. Councillors can be contacted by either phone or email. 

Councillor Ruth McRae (Mayor)

Ward: Jerilderie

Phone: 0428 861 767

Email: ruthm@murrumbidgee.nsw.gov.au

Councillor McRae was elected to the former Jerilderie Shire Council in 2004 and was elected Mayor of Jerilderie Shire Council in September 2014. She held the position of Deputy Mayor from September 2007 until September 2014. Councillor McRae was the Local Representation Committee (LRC) Chair following the merger of Jerilderie Shire and Murrumbidgee Shire Councils in May 2016 through until August 2017.

Cr McRae was elected Mayor of Murrumbidgee Council in September 2017 and was re-elected unopposed in September 2019 and September 2021.

Committee Membership: General Manager’s Review Committee, Darlington Point Caravan Park Committee, Local Emergency Management Committee, Jerilderie Australia Day Committee, Heritage Darlington Point, Central Coree Sports Complex Management Committee, Jerilderie Tidy Towns Committee, Murrumbidgee Business Chamber, Murrumbidgee Economic & Tourism Advisory Group, Monash Park Users, Darlington Point Master Landuse Plan Advisory Committee, CICL/Coleambally Environmental and Reference Committee (CERC), Kidman Way Promotional Committee, Newell Highway Promotional Committee, Newell Highway Taskforce, Murray Darling Association, Thrive Riverina, Roads and Maritime Services Consultative Committee, RAMJO, Western Region Joint Planning Panel, Berrigan Jerilderie Community Network, Scholarship Committee, Community Grants Committee.

Councillor Robert Black (Deputy Mayor)

Ward: Murrumbidgee East

Phone: 0428 696 102

Email: robertb@murrumbidgee.nsw.gov.au

Councillor Robert Black was elected to the former Murrumbidgee Shire Council in September 2012 and was elected Deputy Mayor.

Cr Black was elected to Murrumbidgee Council as Deputy Mayor in September 2017 and was re-elected unopposed in September 2019 and 2021.    

Committee Membership: Internal Audit, Risk & Improvement Committee, General Manager’s Review Committee, Traffic Committee, Local Emergency Management Committee, Coleambally Sports Precinct Advisory Committee, Murray Darling Association, RMS Consultative Committee, RAMJO, Western Region Joint Planning Panel, Scholarship Committee, Community Grants Committee.

Councillor Faith Bryce

Ward: Jerilderie

Phone: 0438 108 809

Email: faithb@murrumbidgee.nsw.gov.au

Councillor Bryce was elected to the former Jerilderie Shire Council in 2012.

Cr Bryce was elected to Murrumbidgee Council in September 2017.

Committee Membership: Jerilderie Australia Day Committee,  Balmeringa Management Committee, Jerilderie Tidy Towns Committee, Western Riverina Arts, Western Riverina Libraries Committee, South West Zone Library Committee, Scholarship Committee, Community Grants Committee.

Councillor Christine Chirgwin

Ward: Murrumbidgee East

Phone: 0467 544 724

Email: christinec@murrumbidgee.nsw.gov.au

Councillor Chirgwin was elected to the former Murrumbidgee Shire Council in 2008.

Cr Chirgwin was elected to Murrumbidgee Council in September 2017. 

Committee Membership: Coleambally Australia Day Committee, Coleambally Townlife Committee, Yamma Recreation Reserve Management Committee, Coleambally Sports Precinct Advisory Committee, Kidman Way Promotional Committee, Scholarship Committee, Community Grants Committee.

Councillor Robert Curphey

Ward: Murrumbidgee

Phone: 0448 629 502

Email:  robertc@murrumbidgee.nsw.gov.au

Councillor Curphey was elected to the former Murrumbidgee Shire Council in 2008.

Cr Curphey was elected to Murrumbidgee Council in September 2017. 

Committee Membership: Darlington Point Floodplain Risk Management Committee (formerly DP Levee Committee), Boat Ramp Darlington Point-Advisory Committee, Darlington Point Master Landuse Plan Advisory Committee, Scholarship Committee, Community Grants Committee.

Councillor Gavin Gilbert

Ward: Murrumbidgee

Phone: 0439 255 448

Email: gaving@murrumbidgee.nsw.gov.au

Councillor Gilbert was elected to the former Murrumbidgee Shire Council in 2012. Cr Gilbert was elected to Murrumbidgee Council in September 2017.

Committee Membership: Darlington Point Caravan Park Committee, Darlington Point Floodplain Risk Management Committee (formerly DP Levee Committee), Boat Ramp Darlington Point-Advisory Committee, Darlington Point Master Landuse Plan Advisory Committee, Scholarship Committee, Community Grants Committee.

Councillor Troy Mauger

Ward: Jerilderie

Phone: 0460 291 739 

Email: troym@murrumbidgee.nsw.gov.au

Councillor Mauger was elected to Murrumbidgee Council in December 2021.

Committee Membership: Central Coree Sports Complex Management Committee, Monash Park Users, Riverina Valleys Spot On Spray Group, Scholarship Committee, Community Grants Committee.

Councillor Judy Saxvik

Ward: Murrumbidgee

Phone: 0427 684 114 or 02 6968 4217

Email: judiths@murrumbidgee.nsw.gov.au

Councillor Saxvik was elected to Murrumbidgee Council in December 2021.

Committee Membership: Darlington Point Townlife / Australia Day Committee, Heritage Darlington Point, Boat Ramp Darlington Point-Advisory Committee, Darlington Point Master Landuse Plan Advisory Committee, Darlington Point Caravan Park Committee, Darlington Point Floodplain Risk Management Committee (formerly DP Levee Committee), Scholarship Committee, Community Grants Committee.

Councillor Timothy Strachan

Ward