Edwin Thomas Penny was elected to the Moorabbin Shire Council in 1893 serving as the Mayor from 1898 to 1900. Upon his election to Mayor, the Brighton Southern Cross mentioned that "In the 5 years since his election to Council he has always taken a leading part in its deliberations and is devoted to the best interests to the ratepayers of the riding." The article went on to say that Penny "was a valued member of the local Board of Advice, he has always been prominent in matters relating to the welfare of rising generation of Moorabbinites". It goes on to say that Penny "has devoted time and attention to the formation of the new Cheltenham recreation ground being a committee member. He has always been in immediate touch with any movement bought forward for the advancement of the district and is very popular with both young and old." On 7 August 1905 Councillor Penny addressed an audience at the Mechanics institute whilst seeking re-election for a further 3 years. He told the congregation that in the past 12 years he had only missed 4 of the 300 meetings and had kept his promise to do his best for the Riding and the Shire. Penny was re-elected for a further 3 years. Penny served on Council for 15 years in total, losing the last election by a mere 26 votes. ET Penny's contribution to the Shire as a Councillor was acknowledged at a large gathering held at the Mechanics' Institute Mordialloc, in November 1908. The event was held ‘for the purpose of showing their recognition of the valuable services rendered by ex-Cr. Penny during his 15 years representation of the South Riding of the Shire of Moorabbin’. It was recorded that Penny was ‘one of the best known men in Moorabbin’, and ‘had taken a leading part in its growth as a producing centre, and in its public, church and social life’. It was further recorded that 'his property reportedly had frontages to Tulip, Jack and Bay Roads'. Edwin Penny was presented with a ring and his wife with an epergne. In his reply Edwin Penny noted that ‘he had lived in the shire for 54 years and had watched it grow from a wilderness to the beauty spot of Victoria’. "(Brighton Southern Cross September 17, 1898 page 2) (Brighton Southern Cross August 12, 1905 page 2). (Brighton Southern Cross, Saturday 7 November 1908, page 4)"