By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
GEELONG’S choice of Darryn Lyons as mayor has featured in global media, including the front page of Britain’s biggest-selling newspaper, the Daily Mail.
Newly-installed Councillor Lyons said he was bombarded with a constant stream of national and international media interview requests since his election.
“I’ve had 267 calls missed on my mobile, similar for text messages and 300 emails that I’ve not had a chance to get to.”
Cr Lyons said he hoped to leverage the international interest to Geelong’s benefit.
“This kind of coverage is rare for Geelong, from a marketing perspective for the city. As seen on TV, can build Geelong a brand very quickly.
“I doubt there’s been anyone in Geelong’s mayoral history that has had this type of response. I think we’ve had more coverage than when Tony Abbott was elected.”
Cr Lyons said the coverage, along with his “great relationships” among the famous, international superstars and journalists the world over, meant international businesses would “take note”.
But some “mixed reviews” was part and parcel of the media coverage, he said.
“There’s been some tabloid wackiness but I don’t mind that.
“People don’t realise I worked on some of the biggest shows on television, interviewed big names and every celebrity show from here to the end of the Earth is still being repeated in many, many countries.”
Cr Lyons credited social media for generating a great deal of the coverage.
“Twitter went absolutely nuts but it did show me that we need to get tech savvy because we’re way behind.”
The new mayor said the amount of backgrounding and briefings he faced in his initiation to the job was “daunting”.
“It’s local government – the pace compared to the way I run my businesses is very different. I have folders as thick as 10 Bibles to read.
“But the staff have been great. They recognise that I’m decisive in what I want and we’re going through the process to try and get some of that done quickly.
“There has to be adaptation on both sides, I’m totally understanding of that. They have a job to do and I do too.
“Some personalities can deal with that and others can’t.”
