Ayush elected junior mayor

City of Greater Geelong junior mayor Ayush Singh, mayor Stretch Kontelj and deputy junior mayor Alanah Forbes. (supplied)

Ayush Singh is City of Greater Geelong’s new junior mayor after being voted in by his peers while Alanah Forbes is the deputy junior mayor.

Friends and family of the elected Youth Council members were in attendance at the induction, alongside City of Greater Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM.

Junior Mayor Ayush Singh, who attends the same high school (North Geelong Secondary College) that Mayor Kontelj attended and graduated from, said it was an honour to be chosen to represent his peers.

“It is a privilege to be elected to the City of Greater Geelong Youth Council for 2025 and a thrill to be serving as the junior mayor,” Ayush said.

“The Youth Council has achieved so much already and I look forward to our group continuing the legacy of those who have served previously.”

The 2025 Youth Council will take a different shape from previous years, with a shift to 11 members instead of 12 to reflect the makeup of council.

Meetings will be held monthly between February and November, in addition to the quarterly mentoring sessions with councillors.

Mentoring sessions provide Youth Council members with an opportunity to engage with Councillors, ask questions, seek advice on topics such as leadership, and discuss issues and challenges affecting young people in Geelong.

Mayor Kontelj said he was impressed by the calibre of the 2025 Youth Council.

2025 City of Greater Geelong Youth Council is: Alanah Forbes, Archie Gaylard, Ayush Singh, Benjamin Pocock, Codey Broomhall, Isabella Harvey, John McClure, Lacey Young, Lola Philip-Szaraz, Mohammad Husseini and Sarah Ivey.