Julie Sutton (mayor)
Julie Sutton | |
|---|---|
| 7th Mayor of Warringah | |
| In office 26 September 2002 – 23 July 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Darren Jones |
| Succeeded by | Dick Persson (Administrator) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1937 Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Political party | Independent |
| Residence | Frenchs Forest, New South Wales |
| Alma mater | Newcastle University University of New England Macquarie University |
| Occupation | Teacher and Marriage Celebrant |
Julie Sutton, JP (born. 1937) is a New South Wales politician, elected as a Councillor of Warringah Council and was previously Mayor of Warringah from 1995-1996 and 2001-2003.
Early life
Sutton was born in Australia in 1937, growing up in Newcastle on the New South Wales Central Coast. Sutton was educated at Newcastle Girls' High School (which merged with Newcastle Boys' in 1976 to become Newcastle High School), and the Universities of Newcastle, New England and Macquarie completing a Master of Arts (Hons.) and a Diploma of Education, becoming a teacher. She taught French, German and English at Raymond Terrace High School (Now Hunter River High School) and Newcastle Girls’.[1] Moving to Sydney in 1965, Sutton became a Teacher of English and Modern Languages at The Forest High School, Davidson High School and Killarney Heights High School from 1965-1986. She married, which was later dissolved, and had 3 sons.[2]
Council
In 1980 Sutton stood for election in D Riding of Warringah Shire Council and on 20 September 1980, she became the first female Councillor of Warringah Council. She served the council until it was dismissed in December 1985 by the Wran Government following supposed discrepancies in council planning decisions. However, following a successful legal challenge against the government by the NSW Fraud Ombudsman, it was subsequently found that there was no evidence of corruption to support the dismissal, and that “the elected councillors were denied natural justice and were both unfairly and unlawfully dismissed". When the council was returned on 14 March 1987 after the local elections, Sutton was elected as Deputy Shire President alongside Shire President Ted Jackson.[3] This lasted until September 1987, and Sutton returned as a Councillor.[4]
She became involved in Council Committees, supporting the The Forest Community Association, whose work resulted in the establishment in 1985 of the Forest Community Centre/Glen Street Theatre, now one of Sydney’s leading artistic venues, and the creation of Garigal National Park, the result of very long negotiations with Dainford Ltd, the then State Government and Warringah Council and Narrabeen Lagoon Committee. Dainford agreed to transfer 800 hectares of privately owned land into public ownership in exchange for approval to build the Austlink Corporate Park thus creating Garigal National Park in 1991.[2] Sutton was elected as Deputy Shire President for a further three terms: 1989-1990, 1991-1992 and 1992-1993.[4]
She could not, however, match this success at the state level and failed to gain election to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Davidson against Terry Metherell in 1981[5], 1984 and 1988.[1] However, she came close at a 1992 by-election against fellow Councillor Andrew Humpherson, gaining 40 percent of the vote.[6]
Remaining on Council, following the proclamation of former A Riding as Pittwater Council, her D Riding was renamed 'C Ward', and she was elected as Deputy Mayor from 1994-1995 (following the passing of the Local Government Act 1993, Warringah Council dropped 'Shire' and Shire Presidents became Mayors). From 19 September 1995 Sutton was elected as "Her Worship the Mayor of Warringah Council", becoming the second Mayor of Warringah and the first female leader of the Council.[4] As Mayor she assisted in the establishment of the Austlink Business Park between Frenchs Forest Road and Warringah Road, in Frenchs Forest, providing hundreds of jobs in Warringah. She remained as Mayor until 24 September 1996. Sutton was again elected Deputy Mayor alongside Darren Jones from 2001-2002 before returning as Mayor from 26 September 2002 until the Council's dismissal on 23 July 2003.[4]
Sutton continued serving the community for the next five years without a Council under the Administration of Dick Persson. This lasted until the local government elections of 23 September 2008, which saw her elected for another four-year term in C Ward, she is currently the longest-serving member of the council.[7][8]
Notes
- ^ a b "Julie Sutton (1937 - )". The Australian Women's Register. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
- ^ a b "Julie Sutton for Mayor of Warringah". Julie Sutton. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
- ^ Collier, Shayne (26 March 1987). "Warringah Reborn". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
- ^ a b c d "Presidents, Mayors, Councillors, Shire Clerks and General Managers of Warringah Council" (PDF). Warringah Council. Retrieved 2009-05-22.
- ^ Sydney Morning Herald, 6 September 1981
- ^ "NSW elections - 1992 results". NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
- ^ "Regan heads new-look Council". The Manly Daily. 22 September 2008. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
- ^ "Warringah, Elected Council". Warringah Council. Retrieved 2009-10-01.