“The mayor is the mayor, I sincerely wish Jamie all the best,” Cr Fuller said. “He has my 100 per cent support.”

But her failed bids for both mayor and deputy positions, despite gaining the majority councillor vote at the September 10 election, had not gone unnoticed in the community.

Many took to social media to voice their support for Cr Fuller who was defeated five votes to four in a secret ballot by fellow councillors. But some posts overstepped the mark.

“It was a bit ugly,” she said of the social media commentary. “I want people to be mindful of others.”

She was also scathing of actions by a fellow councillor who called prior to Wednesday’s ordinary meeting in an attempt to persuade her not to run for mayoral positions.

“I don’t think it was appropriate for a councillor to call me like that,” she said. 

“I had as much right as anybody to stand [for mayoral positions].”

Cr Fuller, a prominent voice in the Gunnedah shire and big supporter of outlying villages, asked if people wished to have matters addressed at council, to speak with her directly through the appropriate channels.

“Tell me what needs to be done and we’ll see what we can do,” she said.

“This is my town, I was born here and I’m very passionate about it.

“I thank everybody who has stood by me in recent weeks but it’s time to move forward.

“Our town is too important to not be getting on with the job.”

In an interview with the NVI on Thursday, Cr Chaffey said his priority was to ensure shire residents could “live, work and play in a free and safe environment”.

He said there were plenty of challenges ahead for the new council but nothing unattainable.

“I have strong desire to serve the community and the expectation is I deliver,” he said.

Cr Chaffey will serve a two-year term as Gunnedah shire mayor alongside his elected deputy, Cr Gae Swain.