In the Corowa Civic Centre’s council chamber, she becomes the first female mayor.
Before the merger of Corowa and Urana Shires in 2026, Urana Shire had one female mayor, Margaret Bunton.
Federation Council’s deputy mayor is Redlands farmer and secretary/treasurer of Corowa Football Netball Club, Rowena Black. Elected unopposed, Cr Black becomes the first female deputy mayor at the Corowa-based headquarters.
Federation’s new council comprises six new faces from the last council. Mayor Cook’s appointment followed a close 5:4 vote, from Cr Derek Schoen.
Council’s last make-up of three female councillors has been retained, but with a second Howlong-based councillor, Susan Wearne.
Cr David Longley was Howlong’s sole councillor for the past seven years, but the situation has reverted to the once two-councillor representation from Howlong.
Mr Longley attended the October 15 elections of mayor and deputy mayor and spoke in glowing terms about the new mayor.
“She is a very strong leader who won’t be pushed around. Cheryl has a strong administrative background and will be a uniting force of Federation Council,” he told The Free Press.
Mayor Cook’s administrative background includes being a personal assistant in the legal, local government and private sectors, as a self-employed businesswoman, sales trainer and real estate agent.
For just over the last four years, she has been secretary of the Howlong Community Progress Association.
Local government service is not new in the mayor’s family. Her father, the late John Steinke, was for 17 years a councillor and shire president (title changed to mayor in the 1990s) of the former Hume Shire Council. Her uncle, Gordon Schmidt was also a shire president in the Hume Shire.
“Dad was a formidable a shire president,” his daughter said.
Upon retirement, Mr Steinke and his wife Melba became residents of Howlong until their passing.
“I always looked up to Mum – she had a green thumb. I certainly didn’t! Mum looked after the garden at Howlong Country Golf Resort for 25 years,” Cheryl said.
Cheryl was raised on a farm near Brocklesby. She enjoyed netball. As a goal shooter for Brocklesby, she was a multiple best and fairest player.
Attending Year 10 at Corowa High School, she studied at Corowa TAFE and became a legal secretary.
After living in Sydney, Wollongong and Melbourne she came back in 2011 with her husband Kevin and settled in Howlong.
Mayor Cook understands only too well that the mayor’s job involves a lot of extra unpaid hours, intrusion into one’s personal life, contentious debate in the chamber and potential abuse from ratepayers who don’t like the tough governance decisions required sometimes.
“I have the experience, the knowledge and the confidence to be a persuasive voice in the council chamber,” Mayor Cook said. “I certainly don’t mind working with male councillors.
“I’m a willing listener for people’s issues of concern, I’ll be approachable but not exploitable, I’ll be firm but fair and I will uphold the oath that councillors make to be of service to the entire shire.”
Federation Council’s new mayor, who turns 67 years of age next month, believes it’s timely for councils to get back to basics minus the distraction of social and political issues.
“I want to ensure that badly needed infrastructure upgrades and forward planning stay top of the agenda to ensure the future needs of all communities throughout the shire,” Mayor Cook said.
“I’m really looking forward to the job.”
