Decision details

Minute by the Lord Mayor

To Council:

I inform Council of the passing of Leonie Jackson, member of the City’s Inclusion (Disability) Advisory Panel and Executive Manager, Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships at The Deaf Society and Deaf Services, on 17 January 2021.

Leonie tragically passed rescuing her 10-year-old son who got caught in a strong rip at Congo Beach on the NSW South Coast, where she was holidaying with her family.

Leonie was a valued member of the City’s Inclusion (Disability) Advisory Panel. Leonie joined our Panel in 2020, providing strategic advice to our organisation on how to advance the inclusion of people with disability in our community. Leonie’s experience as both a proud Deaf person and as an experienced and highly skilled professional in the disability sector was a great asset to the City and our work on disability inclusion. Leonie advised the City on how to ensure our practices were not only inclusive to members of the Deaf community, but also celebrated Deaf culture. 

Leonie was also the Executive Manager, Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships with the newly merged Deaf Services and the Deaf Society NSW. Prior to that, Leonie was the first Deaf Chief Executive Officer in the history of the Deaf Society, a role she had held since 2015. The City expresses our condolences to members and staff of the Deaf Society, who worked with and knew Leonie.

Leonie worked extensively in the disability sector in advocacy, teaching, and service delivery roles. Leonie previously held positions as President of NSW Association of the Deaf, Chair of the Deaf Education Network and President of the Parents of Deaf Children. Leonie was also the Chair of the Games Organising Committee for the 2022 Australian Deaf Games.

Leonie was a passionate advocate for the Deaf community and dedicated much of her life to preserving Deaf culture. Leonie began her career as a teacher and has been widely recognised as a pioneer in Deaf education and bilingual teaching in Australia. Whilst working at the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children Leonie established the first bilingual program for Deaf children.

Leonie had a significant impact on many and her loss will be felt by City staff, Panel members, the Deaf community and the broader community. Leonie will be remembered for her service to the community and commitment to the preservation of Deaf culture in Australia.

Our thoughts are with Leonie’s family during this time, particularly her children.

COUNCILLOR CLOVER MOORE

Lord Mayor

Moved by the Chair (the Lord Mayor), seconded by Councillor Scully –

It is resolved that Council observe a minute’s silence to mark the passing of Leonie Jackson, noting her significant contribution to the Deaf community, the disability sector more broadly and service to our community as a member of the City’s Inclusion (Disability) Advisory Panel.

Carried unanimously.

S051491

Note – All those present at the meeting, held remotely, observed a minute’s silence in memory of Leonie Jackson.