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Giddy up Geelong: new mayor causes stir with billboard featuring himself Giddy up Geelong: new mayor causes stir with billboard featuring himself
(about 7 hours later)
He has been in office barely a month but Geelong mayor Darryn Lyons claims he has already garnered international attention for Victoria’s second largest city by unveiling a billboard featuring himself and the slogan “Giddy up”.He has been in office barely a month but Geelong mayor Darryn Lyons claims he has already garnered international attention for Victoria’s second largest city by unveiling a billboard featuring himself and the slogan “Giddy up”.
Lyons has sharply divided public opinion in Geelong with the billboard, which states “We are Geelong! Giddy up”, alongside a picture of Lyons in his mayoral robes.Lyons has sharply divided public opinion in Geelong with the billboard, which states “We are Geelong! Giddy up”, alongside a picture of Lyons in his mayoral robes.
“Giddy up” is a catchphrase used by Lyons, who is originally from Geelong and is known in the UK for founding a celebrity photography agency in London.“Giddy up” is a catchphrase used by Lyons, who is originally from Geelong and is known in the UK for founding a celebrity photography agency in London.
Lyons was elected mayor of Geelong in November, receiving close to 30% of the 130,000 formal votes, more than twice as many as his nearest rival.Lyons was elected mayor of Geelong in November, receiving close to 30% of the 130,000 formal votes, more than twice as many as his nearest rival.
One of his election promises is the “beautification” of the traditionally industrial city, which is set to lose Ford as a major employer in 2017 and recently suffered job cuts at clothing chain Cotton On, which has its headquarters in Geelong. Lyons has already set about placing hanging baskets filled with colourful flowers around the city. One of his election promises is the “beautification” of the traditionally industrial city, which is set to lose Ford as a major employer in 2017 and recently suffered job cuts at clothing chain Target, which has its headquarters in Geelong. Lyons has already set about placing hanging baskets filled with colourful flowers around the city.
The entrepreneur-turned-politician said the billboard had sparked interest from media around the world, claiming that it would help drive business and tourism to Geelong. He rejected criticism that the edifice may be a little self-aggrandising.The entrepreneur-turned-politician said the billboard had sparked interest from media around the world, claiming that it would help drive business and tourism to Geelong. He rejected criticism that the edifice may be a little self-aggrandising.
“When it comes to self promotion, this is a man that doesn’t need self promotion, with more than a million Twitter followers and known on television in every country in the world. I’m harnessing that global marketing image I have,” he told local radio station K-Rock.“When it comes to self promotion, this is a man that doesn’t need self promotion, with more than a million Twitter followers and known on television in every country in the world. I’m harnessing that global marketing image I have,” he told local radio station K-Rock.
“We are ‘giddy up town’ at the end of the day. We had horses and carts in the 1800s and the fact of the matter is they aren’t coming back, but we are going to be an aggressive, 21st century, smart city.”“We are ‘giddy up town’ at the end of the day. We had horses and carts in the 1800s and the fact of the matter is they aren’t coming back, but we are going to be an aggressive, 21st century, smart city.”
The billboard is one of a number of initiatives by Lyons, who this week launched a bid to get the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to visit Geelong when they tour Australia, although he stressed that he couldn’t promise that “baby George will be walking down Moorabool Street”.The billboard is one of a number of initiatives by Lyons, who this week launched a bid to get the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to visit Geelong when they tour Australia, although he stressed that he couldn’t promise that “baby George will be walking down Moorabool Street”.
Lyons said he had already met with prime minister Tony Abbott and Labor leader Bill Shorten in his efforts to reinvigorate the city.Lyons said he had already met with prime minister Tony Abbott and Labor leader Bill Shorten in his efforts to reinvigorate the city.
“If people have seen me globally on television they will know my motto is achieve the unachievable,” he said. “We’ve been through the worst global economic crisis since the great depression and we’ve got to roll up our sleeves. I’m not going to wait for business to come here – I’m inviting people. This mayor will be a lobbying mayor. For the first time in a long time we are open for business.”“If people have seen me globally on television they will know my motto is achieve the unachievable,” he said. “We’ve been through the worst global economic crisis since the great depression and we’ve got to roll up our sleeves. I’m not going to wait for business to come here – I’m inviting people. This mayor will be a lobbying mayor. For the first time in a long time we are open for business.”
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