Julie Sutton (mayor)

Julie Sutton JP (born. 1937) is a former New South Wales politician and Marriage Celebrant, elected as a Councillor of Warringah Council and was previously Mayor of Warringah from 1995–1996 and 2002-2003.

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 and the Universities of Newcastle, New England and Macquarie completing a Master of Arts with Honours (MA Hons.) and a Diploma of Education (DipEd), becoming a teacher. She taught French, German and English at Raymond Terrace 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 as a Labor Party candidate 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 as the ALP candidate to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Davidson against Terry Metherell in 1981 and 1984.^[1] Sutton was later expelled from the ALP for voting for a colleague to be Shire President against instructions from Labor caucus.^[5] She stood again as an Independent against Metherell in Davidson at the 1988 election but was again unsuccessful.^[6] However, she came close at the 1992 by-election as an Independent against fellow Councillor and Liberal candidate Andrew Humpherson, gaining 40 percent of the vote.^[7]

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]

Later career

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, making Sutton the longest-serving member of the council.^[8] On 30 September 2011, Sutton was elected by the council as Deputy Mayor. On her election, the Mayor, Michael Regan, congratulated Sutton "who has served the community of Warringah with loyalty and passion for more than 30 years".^[9] On her election Sutton also made clear that her current term would be her last, announcing her intention not to stand for re-election at the 2012 NSW Local Government Elections.^[10]

On 29 May 2012, Sutton was tributed in the NSW Parliament by the current Member for Davidson, Jonathan O'Dea and the Member for Wakehurst, Brad Hazzard, and who nominated her for the Woman of the Year award.^[5] On 24 August 2012, at the final council meeting before the elections, Sutton was awarded the title of Emeritus Mayor by the Local Government Associations of NSW in recognition of her service to Warringah Council.^[11] Mayor Regan noted her final meeting as a Councillor by saying: "Councillor Sutton has only ever missed one council meeting since she joined Council in 1980 – this is quite a remarkable testament to her work ethic and commitment to her role as a Councillor. Councillor Sutton will of course be fondly remembered for her epic contribution to this community by our local MPs, former Councillors, staff and the residents – she has worked incredibly hard and achieved a great many things. Councillor Sutton has had an impact on us all. She has entertained us with her wit and reminded us of what really matters within this community. I know that while she will no longer be sitting here at this table, she will continue to work tirelessly as she always has to help so many and the community she loves."^[12]

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