Ricardo for mayor of Ruse – and it’s RIP Tim Stuart

Last week in this column we speculated about the biggest personalities in our various suburbs.

Indeed we called for nominations after we discussed whether current Councillor Bob Thompson or MP Anoulack Chanthivong should get the nod for Ingleburn.

In retrospect we should have included long serving Ingleburn chamber secretary Phil Occhiuto.

As for the others we have so far received a couple of nominations.

One is for young Josh Cotter as mayor of Glen Alpine, based on his activism and standing for election twice in six months.

A former mayor, Paul Hawker, is also seen as a good chance to be named mayor of Bradbury, unless another candidate comes forth.

And marketing man Bob Bushby was being considered for the crown at Ruse but he’s just moved out of the area so the honour may have to go to wildlife rescuer Ricardo Carlo Lonza.

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♦ It’s our sad duty to inform readers that well known local Tim Stuart died in Coffs Harbour Hospital yesterday.

He had been unwell and had spent time in both the Hunter Hospital and Coffs Harbour Hospital.

One of our biggest readers, Frank Ward, who knew Mr Stuart very well, was kind enough to send in this short obituary today:

“Tim Stuart, through Stuart Homes, with me as manager, opened East Campbelltown when the locals warned us that we would go broke because nobody would go so far out to live.

“This was in late 1959.

“Tim also built many homes in the St Elmo Estates.

“We did the first subdivision there around Lawson and Dennis Streets and sold the homes for around $6,000 on 10 percent deposit, and when the buyers did not have it we let them pay us off on an IOU, and we never had a default.

“Many of these still live in these homes as they were War Service Homes and their families went on to play their part in the community.

“A lot of the early officials and players for the [Campbelltown City] Kangaroos came from these areas.

“When I stood for council I always got near 80 percent of the votes in East Campbelltown.

“Tim later went into commercial building as Centennial Constructions, and built many developments in the area.

“He retired to Bellingen and is survived by his wife and children, Sonia and Paul.

“Another player from the past moves on.’’

Yes, indeed: Tim Stuart, RIP.

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♦ The Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue is hosting its second annual Out There Summit tomorrow, Friday, April 28, where it will explore big ideas and projects in the region.

More than 450 delegates have registered to attend across business, government, sport, arts and tourism.

Highlights will include:

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian outlining her vision for Western Sydney in the 2017 Lachlan Macquarie Lecture;

Federal MP Angus Taylor discussing the Western Sydney Cities Deal;

Panel sessions and Q&A, with leading Government ministers and local representatives such as Minister for Western Sydney, Stuart Ayres and NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley;

Demographic and Economic data analysis of the Western Sydney consumer;

Performances and showcase of Western Sydney talent.

It will be held in the Parramatta campus of the Western Sydney University.

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♦ Finishing on a sporting note and our very own NRL team, the Wests Tigers, it will be a long time between drinks when it comes to hosting games here in Campbelltown.

It seems like an age away now but in round two, on Sunday, March 12, the Penrith Panthers defeated the Tigers at Campbelltown 36-2.

There will be a lot of water under the bridge by the time the Tigers return to Campbelltown for the round 14 clash on Sunday, June 11 against the Roosters.

Two more games after that will be played at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, featuring the Titans and the Cowboys.