On his way back from China, the mayor of one of the biggest municipalities in Sydney died suddenly.
After visiting sister cities in China and South Korea, 77-year-old Tony Bleasdale was supposed to return home this morning. His death came as a shock.
Mr. Bleasdale was elected mayor of Blacktown in 2019. He has been a councilor in the city since 1996.
The Labor movement veteran and Blacktown’s former mayor served on the town council for over thirty years. In 2010, he was bestowed an Order of Australia medal in recognition of his remarkable involvement with nonprofits and his substantial impact on the Blacktown community.
Many health-related organizations were fortunate to have Mr. Bleasdale’s unwavering support. These included the Gynaecological Cancer Research Fund, Westmead Hospital, Blacktown Relay for Life, Cancer Council NSW, and many more.
His outstanding volunteer effort and commitment to serving the Blacktown municipality earned him the esteemed Order of Australia medal in 2010.
With an estimated 426,000 residents, Blacktown is the biggest LGA in Sydney.
The grandpa was honored with an Order of Australia in 2010 for his civic work and philanthropy.
Longtime Labor Party member Mr. Bleasdale has lately endorsed the initiatives of New South Wales Premier Chris Minns to increase the supply of housing, joining several other mayors in this endorsement.
Federal MP for Greenway and former co-councilor of Mr. Bleasdale Michelle Rowland lauded the mayor for his fervent support of Blacktown residents.
Legislator Prue Car, who represents Londonderry and is the state’s deputy premier, has paid tribute to the late mayor, calling him a “friend and mentor,” and has offered her funeral prayers.
Federal Minister for Energy and Climate Change Chris Bowen said that Mr. Bleasdale had been his long-time friend, predating his mayorship.
Mr. Bleasdale was the deputy mayor of Blacktown from 2016 until 2019, when he became the mayor.
Bleasdale sailed from England to Australia at the tender age of fifteen. In 1918, when he was a prisoner of war, his grandpa tragically died.
With more than 40 years of expertise, Bleasdale has a deep foundation in the construction business. He began his career as a bricklayer before venturing into the labor hire industry.
