Council
3 December, 2025
Fifth-generation Natimuk farmer set to lead Horsham for next 12 months
THE Horsham Rural City Council's new mayor is a no-nonsense kind of bloke who will very likely call a spade a spade if the occasion merits it, but comes to the role with a passion for the community.
Wyn Wyn Ward, first-term councillor and fifth-generation farmer Brian Klowss, was unanimously voted into the position of mayor at a statutory meeting of council on Thursday, November 27.
Cr Klowss had a few weeks' induction when he stepped in as acting mayor in October this year, following Cr Ian Ross' leave of absence due to a medical procedure.
"My fellow councillors said they thought I'd be a good fit when Cr Ross stepped aside in October, and I thought it would be a good opportunity to see how I managed the role for a short time before committing to 12 months," he said.
"If I am honest, in the first couple of weeks, I wondered what on earth I had done, but as I worked my schedule into the role and vice versa, I really began to enjoy it.
"So when the time came on Thursday to put my hand up, I was happy to accept the role for the next 12 months."
Cr Klowss admits to a down-to-earth approach to most things and isn't afraid to ask the hard questions.
"You don't ask, you don't get," he said.
"I'm not just speaking of myself when I say this, but we were voted in to work for the community, and that involves hard decisions."
Cr Klowss said he is prepared to admit the council will not always get it right, but the community can be assured the members are doing their best, and he will do the same.
"I feel real support from the community, and as a majority council of new members last year, that was important while we learned the role and settled into it," he said.
"While we don't have as many people attending the council meetings in person, we have up to 200 people joining the meeting online, so this service has certainly made council meetings more available to people in the wider community."
The mayor encouraged community members to contact their councillor or him if they have something on their mind or think council got it wrong.
"If we make a mistake, we'll own it," he said.
Cr Klowss said sometimes people focus on the mayoral salary, and while he believes it is generous, he also thinks people must understand that the role is almost a full-time job.
To manage both his farm and the mayoral role, there are trade-offs, as with anyone stepping into the role.
"My son Liam has taken on more responsibilities on the farm, and I have employed another person to take over some of his work, plus now that I am receiving the mayoral salary, we are not eligible for farm benefits, so there are trade-offs that we as a family had to consider," he said.
However, he is looking forward to putting his negotiating skills to use to benefit the community.
"We have a lot happening in the municipality; there will be decisions to be made, and the community can be assured that council will be working hard to make sure the community benefits in every way possible."
The decision to elect a deputy mayor at the November meeting was made with careful consideration, the mayor said.
"We saw what happened when Cr Ross took leave," Cr Klowss said.
"We had to elect an acting mayor, so we thought it was time to have a deputy who would be in place should anything like that happen in the future.
"Plus, last year we were all first-time councillors, except for Cr Ross, and it would not have been practical to elect a deputy then.
Cr Rebecca Sluggett was elected deputy mayor.
Cr Klowss is married to Kelly, and they have a son, Liam, who is 22, and two daughters, Ebony, 19, and Jacinta, 17.
They have farmed the family farm since 1876 and are one of the remaining original owners of a generational farm at Natimuk.
He is a fifth-generation farmer, and his son will carry on the farm as the sixth generation.
His hobbies include Field and Game Shooting, the Natimuk Community, and various committees.
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