Last month she was recognised as the longest-serving female councillor ever in Victoria by the Local Government Women’s Association of Victoria. 

“When I first became the mayor, it was quite strange. When we went anywhere, the majority of people would walk up to my husband and shake his hand,” she said. 

“(I) was seen as a novelty at the time.” 

After more than 30 years serving the Ararat community, Cr Allgood was also congratulated by Ararat Rural City councillors and staff, who were pleased to see Cr Allgood being honoured. 

“Ararat is very lucky to have had a great series of female councillors over the years, with three of the seven elected Councillors being female since 2008,” Ararat Rural City Mayor Cr Paul Hooper said.

“Congratulations Gwenda - keep up the good work.” 

Cr Allgood was also congratulated by Council CEO Andrew Evans.

“Having had a significant proportion of female councillors for many years has allowed us to have a wonderful diversity of views and experiences around the council table, all working in the best interests of the wider community,” he said.

“This recognition for Cr Allgood is wonderful, and follows on from her being recently presented with a certificate for 30 years service in Local Government, by the Municipal Association of Victoria.”

Cr Allgood has a simple explanation for her longevity in what can be a bruising arena. 

“Sometimes you get addicted to this stuff,” she said. 

Entering politics on a single issue in 1982, she quickly expanded her interests. 

“When I first started off, I went to council about netball...they said they’d come and look at (the courts) and never did, so I said ‘if you don’t do anything about this, I’m going to run for council’, and I did,” she said. 

“It was a simple reason, I just didn’t have something for my children to do.” 

Children are still a guiding factor for Cr Allgood. 

“Your thoughts do change over the years, but now I’ve got grandchildren. Who would have thought it at the time,” she said. 

The overall record for longest-serving Victorian councillor seems to belong to former Bungaree mayor Jack Toohey, who was on council for almost 50 years. 

Cr Allgood said his mark could be within reach. 

“I’d love to. My father lived until he was 94, so I could keep going,” she said. 

“It’s about keeping the interest up. There’s always a new goal...all my children and grandchildren are still in the area.” 

Her time in council has seen growth in Ararat through major chains coming to town. 

This was a major issue in the 1980s, and Cr Allgood counts supporting Safeway’s (now Woolworths) establishment in town as a high point. 

“When I first started off we were really struggling to get any of that, any of those groups or businesses. We did have Aradale running at the time, and J Ward was for the criminally insane. But as far as any one being interested with the takeway and the big supermarkets, we’ve certainly taken big leaps since then,” she said.

- with Alex Hamer