Cr Allgood was recently awarded a certificate for her more than three decades of service to the municipality, which has included five terms as Mayor.

She said she was just one of five people state wide and the only woman to receive the accolade bestowed on her by the Municipal Association of Victoria.

First elected to serve in the August of 1982, excluding an 18 month period at the time of council amalgamations, Cr Allgood has been a familiar face on council ever since.

"For most of my service I have been the only woman, I've always had such great family support, that's been really important to me," she said.

"When I was first nominated my father said to me 'as long as you go in there and can come out at the end of the day, look in the mirror and be able to tell yourself. I did the best I possibly could, then I was doing my job'.

"What my father said has always stayed with me, you can go in there and loose the argument on one item, but win it on the next one, that is just the way it goes.

"We all have one vote and as long as we work with each other about what is best for the community, not the individual we should be able to live by the result."

Cr Allgood admits to some disappointment, but that has been outweighed by a myriad of achievements.

She highlights the opening of the town's first Safeway store, a new kindergarten, the construction of Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre and a heated indoor pool as important achievements, but by far the biggest was the opening of J Ward to visitors.

"It has been a good ride to be a part of, I have worked with some very good people, good councillors and I think that is important," she said.

Cr Allgood has vowed to continue to bring the community along for the ride.

"If we don't do it, nobody else will and if we don't work together we wont be able to achieve any of it," she said.

"It has always been important for us to bring the people along with us, get out there and talk to the community.

"Because we know the community has got some great ideas and sometimes we haven't always listened to them, that's where our Community Action Plans have been particularly important."

Cr Allgood said in the early 1980s it was 'frightening', people were debating similar if not the same issues as today, but that now they are more likely to work together to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome.

"When you look back and see some of the things that have happened it is just incredible," she said.

"Just look at social media and the response to the pool, that along with the Alexandra Oval redevelopment were primarily community driven."

"Even in the smaller communities, some of the initiatives they have been able to come up with, I think we've come a long way. It might be slow, but at least we are getting there."

Turning her attention to the future, Cr Allgood said she anticipates a focus on establishing Ararat as a transport hub, getting the Ararat Outdoor Olympic Swimming Pool reopened and grabbing opportunities to sell Ararat Rural City as a 'family oriented' municipality as key to its future.

Cr Allgood has also called on the State and Federal Governments to 'get their acts together' and get behind investment in renewable energy.

She also wants more State and Federal funding for roads.

"One of the things that really fascinates me is how bigger regional and rural councils which already raise more revenue than us also receive more funding," she said.

"We need to move to a position where the delivery of funding for vital services and infrastructure such as roads is more equitable to us."

Current Mayor, Cr Paul Hooper was also recognised for his decade of service.

Cr Hooper was the recipient of a 10 year service certificate and a certificate for serving three terms as Mayor.

"I don't do this job for recognition, work goes on, there is a lot to do" Cr Hooper said.

"From my perspective, it's head down, bum up to make this a better municipality."