| Margaret O'Rourke | |
| Mayor of the City of Greater Bendigo | |
| Term Start: | 2016 |
| Term End: | 2020 |
| Predecessor: | Rod Fyffe |
| Successor: | Jennifer Alden |
| Deputy: |
|
| Title3: | Councilor of the City of Greater Bendigo for Eppalock Ward |
| Term Start3: | 2016 |
| Term End3: | 2024 |
| Birth Date: | c.1962 |
| Birth Place: | East Bendigo, Victoria, Australia |
| Nationality: | Australian |
| Party: | Independent |
| Children: | 2 |
Margaret O'Rourke is an Australian former politician who served as Mayor of the City of Greater Bendigo from 2016 to 2020 and as a councillor from 2016 to 2024.
O'Rourke was born in East Bendigo and attended St. Mary's College. After completing year 12, she got a job at Telecom Australia as a typist.[1] In 2000, she became the Area General Manager for Telstra Country Wide for Hobart and Southern Tasmanian. She left Telstra returned to Bendigo in 2006.[2]
After leaving Telstra, O'Rourke served on various committees, including as Chair of Bendigo TAFE, Chair of Bendigo Business Council, Director of Bendigo Health Care Group, Director of Aspire Cultural and Charitable Foundation, and Director of Tasmanian Ports Corporation.[3]
O’Rourke was first elected to the City of Greater Bendigo Council in the 2016 election, where she received 16.1% of the primary vote in Eppalock Ward. She was elected by the council to serve as mayor with former Bendigo mayor Rod Fyffe serving as deputy mayor. This marked the introduction of the position of deputy mayor within the City of Greater Bendigo.[4]
In 2017, the council reelected O’Rourke as mayor, with councillor Jennifer Alden serving as deputy mayor.[5] As mayor, O'Rourke advocated for the establishment of the Galkangu state government services hub which streamlined public services in Bendigo.[6] [7] During O'Rourke's tenure as mayor, Qantas opened passenger transport flights between Bendigo Airport and to Sydney commencing in March 2019.[8]
In 2018, the council once again reelected O’Rourke as mayor, with Fyffe returning as deputy mayor.
O'Rourke was elected mayor for a final time in 2019, with councillor Matt Emond serving as deputy mayor. As mayor of Bendigo at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, O'Rourke led the council in managing the city's initial response.[9]
In the 2020 election, O'Rourke was reelected to the council with 28.41% of the primary vote.[10]
In 2024 O'Rourke received the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the community in the King’s Birthday Honours List.[11]
O'Rourke did not contest the 2024 election.
O’Rourke was appointed as the Head of La Trobe University's Bendigo campus in January 2024 [12]