Cr Rush has held the position of mayor since 2008 while Cr Ogg is coming into his third year in the role of Deputy Mayor.

Speaking to The Muswellbrook Chronicle on Tuesday, Cr Ogg said when he first told his father he was thinking about running for local government back in the 1980s, his father questioned his decision.

“He said ‘can’t you do something better with your life’?” Cr Ogg said.

“I believe this is something better,” he said.

The retired TAFE teacher and Teachers Federation representative was first elected to council in 1999 but says the role of deputy mayor is different to that of a councillor because of the added responsibilities.

He enjoys the connection with the community, doesn’t like to speak of personal highlights or achievements but said the fact that Muswellbrook’s elected council is so balanced and progressive is an achievement in itself.

“We work so well together and that is unusual in itself if you look at some of the other councils, we just all want the best for the Muswellbrook community,” Cr Ogg said.

It’s a busy year ahead with a number of projects in the pipeline, already underway or in the planning stage.

These include upgrades to Bridge Street, refurbishment of the rail underpass, construction of student accommodation at the TAFE, redevelopment of the Campbell Street Corner, a new recycle water treatment works, completion of the Thomas Mitchell Drive project, upgrades to Muswellbrook Hospital’s emergency service department, upgrades to Sandy Hollow town centre and the town’s first purpose-built aged care facility to name a few.