The first elected mayor of Queanbeyan has died.
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Dr David Madew passed away over the weekend, according to a statement from Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council.
The GP was elected as mayor in September, 1980 at the age of 45. Before him, the mayor was selected from among the councillors rather than elected by the public.
Dr Madew stood as an independent and held the position for eleven years, including through a time of great redevelopment. The shopping plaza was built under his watch.
He was an alderman from 1969 to 1991.
According to The Canberra Times of the time, he lived on a property near the racecourse with his wife and five children.
His pitch to voters when he was elected mayor was to tidy up Queanbeyan and attract business.
After victory, he said, "I considered that Queanbeyan had reached a stage of its development that we needed to stop and look at what had been accomplished.
"Generally, we need to tidy the city up, to develop and encourage community pride. The local environment was the important issue.
"We need to develop realistic planning. There have been projections that Queanbeyan would have a population of 40,000 in 20 years, I don't think that will happen so we have to try to improve the city for the people who are here already".
The population of Queanbeyan still hasn't reach 40,000.
Mayor Madew promised: "We'll use unemployment funds on local beautification projects and continue to attract new industry to the city".
Under his mayoralty, Queanbeyan was transformed - though not necessarily in ways that could have been foreseen from his victory statement.
The current mayor, Cr Tim Overall, outlined his predecessor's achievements: "During his term as mayor, Queanbeyan went through a boom period of considerable growth which included the opening of the Riverside Plaza with over 40 specialised shops, Grace Brothers and Coles department stores, the Airport International Motor Inn and Convention Centre, and the Queanbeyan Tigers permanent club house.
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"The period of boom was followed by austere financial times exacerbated by the very high interest rates souring to 17 per cent plus and recession in 1990-91.
"Mayor David Madew helped steer the Queanbeyan Council through these very difficult times with the implementation of sound financial policies and measures.
"On behalf of Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council, I extend my sympathies to Dr Madew's family."
Steve Evans
Steve Evans is a reporter on The Canberra Times. He's been a BBC correspondent in New York, London, Berlin and Seoul and the sole reporter/photographer/paper deliverer on The Glen Innes Examiner in country New South Wales. "All the jobs have been fascinating - and so it continues."
Steve Evans is a reporter on The Canberra Times. He's been a BBC correspondent in New York, London, Berlin and Seoul and the sole reporter/photographer/paper deliverer on The Glen Innes Examiner in country New South Wales. "All the jobs have been fascinating - and so it continues."
