Cr Trevor Stow moved to Bairnsdale in 1978 and purchased a newsagency which he ran for 40 years before retiring two years ago.

During his working life he was a loans officer for the Commonwealth Bank; he retired from the bank as an accountant before buying the newsagency.

Trevor was later manager of Compass Building Society in Bairnsdale.

During his time in the region Trevor has been a member of many bodies and organisations including

• Bairnsdale Golf Club
• Bairnsdale Field & Game
• Bairnsdale Fly Fishers Club
• Gippsland Lakes Fishing Club

He is a past president of the Bairnsdale Chamber of Commerce and a past vice president of Bairnsdale Adult Community Education (BACE).

Trevor is married to wife Shirley and has three children and many grandchildren.

"We are a huge shire with many remote areas. Council needs to connect with these areas. The shire is in a solid financial state," Cr Stow said.

"This is important in these difficult times as it gives us the flexibility to undertake  projects and make changes where they are warranted. If I had to choose one issue to pursue, it would be to promote council's standing in the community with a "can do" attitude."