Decision details

Moved by Councillor Scott, seconded by Councillor Weldon –

It is resolved that:

(A)       Council note:

(i)         John Fowler, the former mayor of the City of South Sydney from 2000 to 2002, passed away on 29 September 2023, aged 69;

(ii)        elected as an independent Councillor to the South Sydney Council in 1989, John Fowler had a long history of serving his community;

(iii)       he was the first openly gay Mayor in Sydney;

(iv)       his openness took bravery at a time when there was considerably less acceptance of our diverse LGBTQIA+ communities;

(v)        during his Mayorship the Sydney Park AIDS Memorial Groves, a grove of Australian Native trees in Sydney Park, was unveiled; and

(vi)       he provided an example of courage and conviction to many others in the LGBTQIA+ community;

(B)       all present at the meeting take one minute of silence to honour the memory and contribution of John Fowler; and

(C)       the Lord Mayor be requested to write to John Fowler’s family expressing the Council’s sincere condolences on his passing.

Carried unanimously.

X086655