Issue - decisions

Minute by the Lord Mayor

To Council:

I wish to inform Council of the passing of Patricia (Pat) Waterman on 14 February 2025, aged 74.

Known as Trish to her family and Pat to her friends and the Woolloomooloo community, she was born at Crown Street Women's Hospital in 1950, the fourth of 7 children.

Growing up in Chippendale, she was raised by her father Patrick Murphy after her mother passed away when she was 9 years old.

It was while living in Chippendale that Pat met John Waterman.  They were married for 57 years, and had 5 children, Brad, Dean, Wesley, Simon and Julie, 7 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

After living in Newtown, they moved to Woolloomooloo in 1984, where Pat became an outspoken advocate for the Woolloomooloo community, continually campaigning for better public housing conditions.

As a long-standing resident representative on the Woolloomooloo Neighbourhood Advisory Board, she met regularly with NSW Police, Council and Department of Housing officers to identify and solve local problems. She diligently attended meetings, and advocated for people who were intimidated by the system and did not feel they could speak for themselves.

As Woolloomooloo neighbour and friend Patricia “Little Patti” Mellote said, Pat was known as someone who held no punches and someone the community could rely and depend upon. The Woolloomooloo community knew she would stand up for them on housing issues. She was a fighter and got results.

I first met Pat when I was elected as Member for Bligh in 1988. Pat introduced me to the Woolloomooloo community and fast became someone I could rely on for frank advice about what was happening in the community and whether the State Government were following through on their commitments to public housing tenants in the area.

Pat cared about Woolloomooloo and wanted it to be clean and safe, and for public housing tenants’ homes to be properly looked after by the State Government. She regularly reported issues to me as her Local Member, and later to Member for Sydney, Alex Greenwich, and we worked together to get good outcomes.

In 2013, Pat was awarded Sydney Electorate Woman of the Year Award by the Member for Sydney, Alex Greenwich, for her dedication and hard work to make Woolloomooloo a strong and safe neighbourhood.

Pat letterboxed for the City of Sydney for more than a decade, but she did more than just deliver notices. I am grateful that Pat actively encouraged people to attend our Woolloomooloo social housing meetings. Her support made a significant difference because she was a trusted member of the community, known for her reliability and passion.

Pat helped many people, and she will be remembered for her advocacy and service. She will be greatly missed.

COUNCILLOR CLOVER MOORE AO

Lord Mayor

Moved by the Chair (the Lord Mayor) –

It is resolved that:

(A)      all persons attending this meeting of Council observe one minute's silence to commemorate the life of Pat Waterman and her contribution to the Woolloomooloo community;

(B)      Council express its condolences to Pat's husband Johnny, and children Brad, Dean, Wesley, Simon and Julie, her many friends and the Woolloomooloo Community; and

(C)      the Lord Mayor be requested to convey Council's condolences to Pat's husband Johnny, and children Brad, Dean, Wesley, Simon and Julie.

Carried unanimously.

S051491

Note – All Councillors, staff and members of the public present stood in silence for one minute as a mark of respect to Pat Waterman.