Maribyrnong councillor Sarah Carter has died, aged 45. The rising star of the Australian Labor Party was found deceased in her home on Tuesday afternoon.
The cause of her death has not been released. Victoria Police said the death is not being treated as suspicious.
Councillor Carter was the first woman to be elected mayor of Maribyrnong three times and has been publicly commended for her efforts in the council since she was elected in 2008.
Hours after her death was confirmed by police, Maribyrnong City Council released a statement from Mayor Cuc Lam and CEO Celia Haddock, who said they were “shocked and saddened to learn of [her] sudden passing.”
“Councillor Carter was a trusted and valued colleague and her passing is an enormous loss to our community who she has worked tirelessly to support over her 16 years on Council,” the statement read.
“Maribyrnong’s first three-time female mayor, councillor Carter was only the second mayor in our municipality’s history to achieve emeritus status – the highest recognition for distinguished service in local government leadership.
“We extend our deepest condolences to Cr Carter’s partner, family, friends, and all who knew and worked alongside her. She will be greatly missed.”
Fellow Maribyrnong councillors have paid tribute to Councillor Carter on social media, describing her as “bright, warm, funny and compassionate.”
“As a mayor and councillor, at Maribyrnong City Council, she was the most decorated female councillor in a city that was first established in 1859, being the only woman to have held the position of mayor three times,” Councillor Michael Clarke said. “Words can’t convey my sense of loss.”
Councillor Bernadette Thomas thanked Carter for her “dedication to the Maribyrnong community over your 16 years as a councillor.”
“Our community will be in shock this morning at your sudden death,” she wrote. “Your energy and enthusiasm for the inner west was infectious and you will be greatly missed.”
Footscray MP Katie Hall described Councillor Carter as “fierce, brilliant and bright.”
“Across our community so many people are grieving,” she said on social media.
“So smart, kind, funny and warm. Sarah had so much love for our community and she dedicated her life to making it better.”
“Why she has left us so young, with so much to give, is something I will never understand. She gave so much already.”
Councillor Carter was serving her fourth consecutive term on the council when she died. She had recently returned from a work-trip to Vanuatu, where she was representing the charity provider, Save the Children as its Manager of the Australian Regional Leadership Initiative, a project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Councillor Carter’s friend, Shadow Minister for Local Government Darren Chester, told the Sydney Morning Herald, “The world is a darker place tonight”.
“She had an extraordinary capacity to make a difference in her local community while also striving to make the world a better place through her involvement with Save the Children,” he said.
Councillor Carter was widely considered to be a future Labor MP. In 2021, she was nominated for the federal seat of Hawke, and endorsed by former opposition leader Bill Shorten. She was one of four female candidates who spoke at a rally at Parliament that year, demanding a woman be preselected for the seat in Melbourne’s north-west.
Councillor Carter has publicly spoken about gender-based violence and inequality. In 2022, during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, she addressed the issue as the council’s Gender Equity Ambassador.
“Violence against women continues to be a serious and prevalent problem with devastating and widespread impacts,” she said at the time. “In Australia, on average, one woman a week is killed by a partner or former partner.”
“Recognising this, it is my strong desire that we work in unison to make meaningful and lasting change in our municipality – not just during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign – but every day.”
Earlier this year, she joined the board of Gender Equity Victoria, the state’s peak independent body for organisations promoting gender equity.
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