Cr Rochelle Halstead
Mayor, Bass Coast Shire Council
After spending many hours making memories with her family on the Bass Coast, Cr Halstead made the choice to relocate and call this beautiful part of Victoria her full-time home.
She brings with her previous experience as a councillor and mayor representing the large municipality of Frankston after her election success in 2003. Cr Halstead stood for the Victorian state seat of Frankston in 2006 and intended to stand again in 2010 before withdrawing from public life after a family tragedy.
Having worked for the Parliament of Victoria, the education and private sectors, Cr Halstead is a small business owner in the hospitality industry, a role she shares with her husband Tony. Together, they have five children and three grandchildren.
After serving as Bass Coast councillor for Westernport Ward from 2020 to 2024 and holding the position of Deputy Mayor in 2023 and 2024, Cr Halstead was returned in the 2024 election to serve another four years.
Graduating from the Australian Institute of Company Directors in 2023, Cr Halstead is keen to use her strong governance skills and her desire to assist others to deliver positive outcomes for her local community.
Bringing with her an infectious enthusiasm, commitment to transparent good governance and a drive for results, Cr Halstead is approachable and enjoys interacting with her community. Cr Halstead wants to nurture a continued community pride and work with colleagues to secure much needed facilities and drive positive change through clever strategic planning. Her commitment is to ensure the voices of all residents are represented and when the time comes to move on, know that she leaves her community in a better place than where she found it.