Rod Fyffe
Rodney James Fyffe OAM (20 March 1949 – 12 July 2024), was an Australian politician and teacher.[1]
Rod Fyffe | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of the City of Greater Bendigo | |
| In office 2003–2004 | |
| In office 2004–2005 | |
| In office 2010–2011 | |
| In office 2015–2016 | |
| Councilor of the City of Greater Bendigo for Lockwood Ward | |
| In office 2012–2024 | |
| Councilor of the City of Greater Bendigo for Golden Square Ward | |
| In office 2004–2012 | |
| Councilor of the City of Greater Bendigo for Fortuna Ward | |
| In office 1996–2004 | |
| Councilor of the City of Bendigo | |
| In office 1983–1994 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 March 1949 Warracknabeal, Victoria |
| Died | 12 July 2024 (aged 75) Bendigo, Victoria |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Independent |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Monash University (BEc) University of Edinburgh (BA) |
| Occupation | Teacher |
| Awards |
|
| Nickname | The Mayor with the Hair |
Early life and career
Fyffe was born on 20 March 1949 in Warracknabeal, Victoria.[2] He attended primary school in Cannum and Caramut, before going to high school in Hamilton. After finishing high school, Fyffe went on to study maths and econometrics at Monash University,[3] where he graduated with a Bachelor of Economics.[2] After undertaking a Diploma of Education, Fyffe went on to teach at Mansfield High School, before departing for Scotland in 1975 for further studies at the University of Edinburgh, where he studied a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Archaeology, Geology, Geophysics and Fine Art.[2]
Fyffe returned to Australia in 1979 and began teaching at Bendigo Senior High School,[2] where he taught until 2011.[4] He took leave from his job as a teacher each time he served as Mayor.
Political career
Fyffe first stood for election in the City of Bendigo in 1982 where he was defeated. He ran again in 1983 where he was elected.
He was elected as mayor of the council in 2003, where he took time off from his teaching job to serve as Mayor. [5]
In 2004, he was elected once again by the council to be the Mayor of the City of Greater Bendigo.[6]
He was elected as mayor for a third time in 2012. [7].
In the 2013 Queen's Birthday Honours, Fyffe was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to local government, and to the community.[8]
In his fourth and final stint as mayor, he oversaw the Bendigo Mosque protests which began when the City of Greater Bendigo voted 7-2 to build approving Mosque under previous Mayor Barry Lyons.[9] Opponents of the the Mosque attempted to appeal the construction to the High Court of Australia, a moved Fyffe praised. [10]
In 2016 he was elected as Deputy Mayor, serving under Mayor Margaret O’Rourke until 2017. [11] He served once again as Deputy Mayor from 2018 until 2019.
In 2020 Fyffe made another bid for Mayor but was unsuccessful, losing to Jennifer Alden. [12]
At the time of his death, Fyffe had served thirty-eight years as a Bendigo councilor, having joining the City of Bendigo council in 1983.[2] He was mayor of Bendigo four times and deputy mayor twice.[2]
He was dubbed "The Mayor with the Hair" by local media.[2][13]
Death
Fyffe passed away on 12 July 2024, aged 75, after a long illness.[2][13]
References
- ^ Finlay, Alistair (21 October 2022). "Decades of service acknowledged". Bendigo Times. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h O'Callaghan, Tom; Magrath, Jonathon; Loughran, Ben (13 July 2024). "Tributes flow for 'mayor with the hair'". Bendigo Advertiser. pp. 1, 5. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ Pang, Simon (2013). The Local Heroes: City of Greater Bendigo. Vol. Three. ISBN 978-0-9806160-2-6.
- ^ Snowdon, Danielle (12 July 2024). "Vale Rod Fyffe". Bendigo Senior Secondary College. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ "Fyffe to be new Bendigo mayor". ABC News. 2003-02-25. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "New faces join Bendigo council". ABC News. 28 November 2004. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ "Rod Fyffe to become mayor of Bendigo". Bendigo Advertiser. 2010-11-24. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ Finlay, Alistair (12 October 2022). "Decades of service acknowledged". Bendigo Times. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ "Bendigo Mayor defends council amid conduct complaints". ABC News. 2016-04-12. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ Press, Australian Associated (2016-06-15). "Bendigo mosque: high court throws out request to hear appeal". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Bendigo mayor and deputy named". Bendigo Advertiser. 2016-11-08. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Fyffe declares mayoral run in three-cornered contest". Bendigo Advertiser. 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ a b "Vale local government legend, Cr Rod Fyffe OAM". City of Greater Bendigo. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.