Former Mayor of Wyong Shire Council, Tony Sheridan has died.
“Tony was 98 years old and passed away peacefully, surrounded by his five children, on Friday 29 September 2023, Central Coast Council said in a statement on Wednesday, October 4.
Mr Sheridan served on Wyong Shire Council for a total of 27 years, including two terms as Shire President and one term as Mayor.
Throughout his extensive period of service, Tony championed progressive measures for the Central Coast and was instrumental in gaining State and Federal funding for several major projects for the region, Council said.
“These included the upgrade of Wyong Road from Tuggerah to Shelly Beach, the establishment of Bateau Bay Village (Square) and Westfield Tuggerah, and the renovation of The Entrance shopping area which included the development of the waterfront and plaza as a recreational area for the community,” Council said.
In 1999, Tony received the Medal of the Order of Australia for Service to Local Government and the Centenary Medal for Service to the Community through Local Government.
In 2016, Wyong Shire was merged with Gosford City Council to become Central Coast Council.
In 2019, the Tony Sheridan Walk at The Entrance opened in recognition of decades of community service.
Member for Wyong David Mehan spoke about Mr Sheridan in State Parliament after the walk was officially opened.
He said Mr Sheridan was an endorsed Australian Labor Party councillor.
“That period included eight years as shire president and one year as mayor,” Mr Mehan said.
“Importantly, Labor was not in the majority during any of the period that he served on council.
“It is due to Tony’s strong support in the community and his leadership that he was able to obtain support on council to become mayor or shire president so many times during his service as a councillor,” Mr Mehan said.
Prior to becoming a Councillor, Mr Sheridan was the area’s senior representative of the NSW State Government in his capacity as a child welfare officer.
During this period he was responsible for the support and care of many families in crisis, which also included the placement of at-risk children.
Mr Sheridan remained an active parishioner in the Catholic Parish of Our Lady of the Rosary at The Entrance and was a lifelong member of the St Vincent de Paul Society.
Members of the community are invited to attend Tony’s funeral, which is being held at 2pm on Friday 6 October 2023 at Our Lady of the Rosary at 239-243 The Entrance Road, The Entrance.
