Mount Druitt Mayor - "Charlie Lowles OAM" Memmorial 13/11/2016 - RIP - All Thanks Blacktown City Council

I have met  former Council Charlie Lowles, on about  multitude of occasions, sometimes we didn't see  'eye to eye' and there was of the recent times where we shared  positive thoughts together. Although, like others I had difficulty in understanding what he said as he also spoke faster and with a rather English distinct accent, but his heart and mind was all Australian.

I'm sure that he knew every square inch of Mount Druitt and I'm am so so sure that every inch of Mount Druitt knew 'Charlie'. At his Memorial Service at Emerton Leisure Centre (heart of Mount Druitt where he  got improved facilities), it was so graceful, all politics was placed aside.  We had  great speeches from Mayor, Councilor Stephen Bali, who demonstrated how he learnt a lot from 'Charlie', NSW State Member for Mount Druitt, Hon. Edmond Atalla, who gave a passionate and brilliant explanation of how he assisted  'Charlie' with mobile phone technology.  To Charlie's daughter, who  made myself understand that his passion for  Everton Football Club and Mount Druitt Town Rangers Soccer club shared common goals and how the family allowed him to spend time within the community. That is why there was  dark blue and white flags for Emerton and  green and yellow flags representing Mount Druitt Town Rangers. This was a beautiful reflection of his football supporting life.

Then Alma his wife, who held back tears as she shared how they embraced  his life and  commitment to the Council and community. To Hon. Ed Husic, Federal Member of Chifley, who also shared the  time he had with him at  'Charlie's Office' in Plumpton Shops.

In fact most of his fellow political colleagues shared coffee at his 'office' at Plumpton.  Hon. Pru Car, NSW Member of Londonderry,  spoke to us audience as if she was speaking to him, as she stated ' She never had a chance to say goodbye to him'. There was Reg Murray,  Mount Druitt Chamber of  Commerce, whom brought his personal experience he had with 'Charlie' in removing graffiti  around the area and the process of how that was done. There was his mate and understudy Councillor Tony Bleasedale, who has a big shoe to  take over and explained how  he is saddened by the loss of 'his mate', both originally coming from Liverpool. There were other speakers that spoke from Mount Druitt Town Rangers President and representative from Rooty Hill RSL.

Really, it was a  beautiful, graceful way of  remembering 'Charlie' but the most predominate speaker I thought stood out, yesterday was,  former NSW State Member of Mount Druitt (retired 2015), Richard Amery, where he  encouraged  the audience to agree to rename the  Emerton Leisure Centre to Charlie Lowles Leisure Centre or Similar, is well thought of. Charlie made Emerton Leisure was it is  today as a true community advocate.

Personally, I wish I  could have  development a more  closer  relationship with him, as Charlie has proven to be, 'The Mayor of Mount Druitt' and the mayor of Blacktown doesn't mind that.

I wish, on behalf of the audience and the community, Council  does go ahead with Richard Amery's suggestion and that in itself is the icing on the cake to ensure our community will remember Charlie.


Rest In Peace




 

Paying Respect To Former Mayor and Blacktown City Councillor ' Charlie Lowles'

For me, I pay my respects to Councilor Charlie Lowles OAM, former Mayor of Blacktown City Council and  Ward 5 Councillor, who passed away on Sunday 30th October 2016.

He was a great knowledgeable man, community man , local Labor Party man, Local Councillor for Ward 5, and  a  former mayor of Blacktown city Council that was sometimes nicknamed 'Mount Druitt Mayor'.

I have had many a conversations, some, where we had slight difference of opinion, yet there was that string believe we both shared and that was to get Mount Druitt off the front page of 'Bad News', in local news and  the wider press and replace 'Good News'.
We both knew this is a great place to live, we shared the common good of being proud of our Mount Druitt area.

Yet, admittedly, he spoke very fast sometimes. I found it hard to hear him at times. Maybe that was my fault for not being fast at listening. I have witnessed  Charlie Lowles being a Mayor and he ran it with such confidence and so fast. He knew how to run the Council Chamber.

He was instrumental in the upgrade of Emerton Pool, Mount Druitt hub library and the walkways in R.A.A.F. Memorial Park, Mount Druitt as well as many other community improvements. I remember our chats at Holy Family Church, Emerton, always wishing him well, to his family and thank him as to what he does as a Councillor.


I will pay my respects on Sunday 13th November, to him and  show how I  really appreciated, his tirelessly work as a Councillor on Blacktown City Council. To our community, I hope you can come down as well and pay your respects to him.

Click here for former details on services for Charlie Lowles  OAM

It is coming to a time, I would even like to suggest we name Ward 5 ' Lowles' Ward and, if we were able to change the Title of each ward by next election, I think it is better than having  numbers for memory  and I'm sure the majority of the community would agree as well.


Click here for previous post 

Funeral Service For Former Councillor, Mayor Charlie Lowles - Mayor Stephen Bali Face Book Page

Announcement from Mayor of Blacktown, Councillor Bali in relation to former Mayor and Councillor Charlie Lowles:

Stephen Bali

3 hrs ·

Charlie Lowles OAM
Funeral arrangements have been confirmed:
10am Church service on Wednesday 9th November 2016
Holy Family Catholic Church
252-254 Luxford Road, Emerton NSW 2770

This will be followed by an interment service at Pinegrove Memorial Park, Kington St, Minchinbury.

Community Celebration of Charlie’s Life:
2pm on Sunday 13th November 2016
Emerton Leisure Centre
35 Jersey Rd, Emerton NSW 2770
 
There will be a civic event held for Emeritus Mayor Charlie Lowles for the community to pay our respects and celebrate his life through talks, music and general good companionship by remembering the life & times of a great local leader. Followed by BBQ & light refreshments.

Rest in Peace my dear friend. You have served the community well.

R.I.P. Former Councillor Charlie Lowles - Mayor Stepphen Bali

Stephen Bali - 

On behalf of the Lowles Family, it is with profound sadness to report that Charlie Lowles passed away this morning.

Charlie was a councillor of Blacktown City being first elected in 1989 and served continuously until his retired at the September 2016 elections. He was Mayor on 3 separate occasions for approximately 6 years.


Charlie was a servant of the people and made a lot of significant contributions to Blacktown City. He was affectionately known as the Mayor of Mt Druitt due to his staunch support of the area and his community involvement. He was awarded an Order of Australia for his community services.

My, my family’s, the City of Blacktown, our collective condolences goes to his wife Alma, his children, Joanne, Karl and Tony and the whole family.

Funeral details will be announced in due course.

May he Rest in Peace.

Rooty Hill Road Bridge Overpass May Get Nod On The Head - Mt Druitt Standard

Time and time again, it is good to revamp stories, community improvements in our local papers and I must congratulate the Mount Druitt Standard, for producing a great story that brings happiness to thousands on thousands.

In fact, even though I have recently taken interest in this community improvement , thanks will have to go to current  Councilors Stephen Bali, Mayor and Tony Bleasedale, Deputy Mayor and former Councillor Charlie Lowles and  also current State Member of Mount Druitt, Edmond Atalla. They will have all gained their community appreciation, once the Francis Road Davis Overpass is widened allowing for double the amount of traffic to flow through and make it easier for  all to crossover from north to south.


Click here to Mount Druitt Standard article

Clikc here for 'whyilovemountdruitt' previous post 

We Farewell And Provide A Tribute To 4 Former Blacktown City Councillors of Ward 4 and 5

Every 4 years there are Blacktown City Councillors that are either not running for election and they retire or they have not been re-elected to Council for various reasons: not being pre-selected from  within their party or resigning from the party and running as an Independent. Each of the the three  Councillors that I would like to dedicate this post to them.

They each have committed so much time personal time in many years, to service their  local constituents and I'm sure that they have each achieved their goals in what they wanted to do as a Councillor of Blacktown City Council.

Retired Councillor, Charlie Lowles OAM, has served the community in Ward 5 for  a long twenty 27 years and his name is well known when it comes to local community improvements/issues. He normally places his hand up first and seeks ways of resolving our local community requirements and turns up at a lot of community events, enjoying himself. He was elected Mayor from 1995-1999 and from 2008-1010. He has  provided so much commitment to his community in everywhere he goes and has served our community with such pride leaving a mark that cannot be forgotten. We wish him well with his retirement.

Retired Councillor, Edmond Atalla has taken up elected office as the NSW Member of Mount Druitt elected to the 56th NSW Parliament in 2015, after  serving the community as a Councillor for over 12 1/2 years in Ward 4, this has given him great insight in being elected as a NSW State Member of Mount Druitt. This new role will give him great character and aspiration to be the best member of our area, especially with his  passionate views on public transport and Mount Druitt hospital as well as education. We wish him well with his newly elected office.

Former Councillor Isabelle White, elected since 2012, was  not re-selected from the local Liberal Party ranks. A vocal voice for the closing of Mount Druitt pool and change of name of Blacktown City name and a current High school teacher, we wish her well in  her future.

Former Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson, Ward 4 for 8 years has  provided quality dedicated time to her community and was recently a great support fro Mayor Stephen Bali, as soon as she was elected Deputy Mayor last year. She has supported community improvements from parks and gardens to bus stops to street improvements. She started with fixing and was elected as a Liberal Councilor in 2008, in 2015 resigned from the Liberal party due to local internal party politicking. She since ran as an independent,  and was elected Deputy Mayor for 1 year. Although  she contested Ward 4 as an Independent, she wasn't elected for her third term and will consider her options within the next 4 years, while she takes a well deserved rest. We wish her well with he future decisions.

So The Changes In Ward 4 and 5 Blacktown City Council Elections 10th September 2016

Would you believe it, we are still in election mode. No, not  Federal Election mode, the buzz and excitement is gone, now we have an elected Federal Government. We have  the Blacktown City Council election occurring on the 10th September 2016.

Here are the calendar of events for the  Blacktown City Council, General elections: Click here

Check here for Poling Booths Click here for Polling Booths in All Wards

So, what changes are happening in  candidates/Councillors in Ward 4 and 5 that covers Mount Druitt and surrounding suburbs?

Clr Charlie Lowles OAM

Clr. Edmond Atalla

Well we have 2 retirement of Councillors: Ward 4 Councillor Edmond Atalla, now current NSW State MP since 2015, elected  as a Councillor since 2004 and retiring and Deputy Mayor 2006-7 and Ward 5 Councillor Charlie Lowles, with over 26 years of being an elected member  of Council.

This will leave Mayor Councillor Stephen Bali with the strongest chance to win the from Ward 4, 1st elected candidate and the same with Tony Bleasedale in Ward 5 (who'll jump up to number on the Australian Labor Party ticket)

Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson, will be swapping her nomination as candidate to from Ward 5 to Ward 4, this time running as an Independent. I understand that most of the Blacktown City Council constituents Councillor Donaldson. meet are mainly living on Ward 4. This will leave a big gaping hole in Ward 5 as the former Liberal Candidate Councillor Donaldson had  pick up a dramatic  swing swing to wards her at last Council election in 2012, a new incumbent  Liberal candidate may find it hard to maintain votes.

We don't know if Councillor Isabelle White will re run as a candidate in Ward 4. If she does,  we will advise the community , so most definitely there will be 3 new faces on Council from Ward 4 & 5 after the  Council elections after 10th September 2016.  

We will keep you posted as soon as  nominations have closed and then we will seek  each candidates 'whyilovemountdruitt', to help you consider who you will vote for.

Councillors Of Ward 5 Respond So Quilckly To Chopped Down Trees - R.A.A.F. Memorial Park!

After I published the Lost/Cut Down Trees At R.A.A.F. Memorial Park I must admit the responses came so quick, I am proud of both Councillors that responded. Please note I incorrectly referred them as Ward 4 Councillors. I was corrected immediately, They are Ward 5 Councillors of Blacktown City Council, Councillors Jacqueline Donaldson and Charlie Lowles OAM

Jacqueline Donaldson <Jacqueline.Donaldson@blacktown.nsw.gov.au> John Svoboda <nsjpas@gmail.com> 24 March 2015 at 20:44 Re: WILMD

Hi John we are ward 5 Councillors but I will look into it Jacqueline

Charlie Lowles <Charlie.Lowles@blacktown.nsw.gov.au>

John Svoboda <nsjpas@gmail.com>

25 March 2015 at 01:11

Re: WILMD

As pointed out to you,I am a WARD FIVE councillor and have been for 26 years.

I walk often in the RAAF Memorial Park.A park I helped to create many years ago.

This was to honour the servicemen of the 22nd Repair Squadron of the RAAF who were based there during World War Two .

Regarding the trees being removed from the above park.

As many of the users of the park would know there was a great number of DEAD trees in the park.

That posed a threat to users.

These trees were infected by Lerpes which is killing off a huge number of trees in what is left of the Cumberland Plain. Woodland.

We are told the plains will recover in time, and they are trying to eradicate the pests that spread it and Remove the dead trees and bury the waste.

We have been informing the public about the situation for some time ...

Thank you for the opportunity to Inform you of the situation.

Clr Charlie Lowles OAM.

WARD 5 councillor.