Desiree Male elected as new Shire of Broome President alongside Deputy President Chris Mitchell

Desiree Male has been elected as the new President of the Shire of Broome at a special council meeting earlier today, with the steadfast councilwoman set to continue the Male family legacy of public service. “Thank you to my fellow councillors for your unanimous support. I am humbled,” President Male said on accepting her nomination. Broome council stalwart Chris Mitchell, who celebrated his 30th year on council in 2022, was elected as Deputy President alongside President Male. It comes as previous Shire President Harold Tracey announced he would be stepping down from the position at the February council meeting due to family reasons, although he will stay on as an ordinary councillor until the end of his term in 2025. At Mr Tracey’s last council meeting as President last night, March 30, Ms Male gave a tearful tribute to the Broome council mainstay. “Whoever steps into the role next will have big shoes to fill,” she said. Now Ms Male will fill the shoes herself as Shire President continuing in her father’s and grandfathers’ footsteps. Ms Male comes from a long line of statesman, beginning with her great grandfather Arthur Male, who represented the Kimberley in the Western Australian parliament under the Wilson Government from 1905 to 1917 and was the Mayor of the Municipality of Broome in 1905, 1908 and 1909. Her grandfather, Sam Male, started Australia’s first cultured pearl farm at Kuri Bay and served as President of the Shire of Broome in 1961, 1962 and again from 1964 to 1966. Sam Male also has a statue in his honour which stands on the corner of Short Street and Dampier Terrace, across the road from Streeter’s Jetty. Ms Male’s father, Kim Male, also served as a councillor for the Shire of Broome for 30 years from 1973 and as Shire President from 1984 to 1990. Ms Male said it was a great honour to be elected as Shire President and to be given the chance to continue the Male family legacy in local government. “It must be in my blood,” she said. “Three generations in local government with my grandfather for over 30 years, my father for over 30 years and now I’ve been here for 14 years, so it’s definitely in our blood. “I feel honored that we can continue to give back to the community the way that we have those three generations.” The new Shire President, who has served as Deputy President over the six years said she plans to continue on the same successful tragectory as her predecessor. “We’ve worked very closely on the initiatives that we have achieved over the past six years and I hope to continue that through to the next election,” she said.