Tributes for Paul Tosi as council mourns loss of great Campbelltown advocate

Campbelltown City Council’s staff and councillors are mourning the loss of former general manager and long-time employee Paul Tosi, who passed away last night.

Council’s flags outside its Queen Street administration offices will fly at half-mast today, and will do so again when his life is commemorated at his memorial service next week.

“It is with sadness that we share this news with the wider Campbelltown community – a community that Paul held so dear,” said Mayor of Campbelltown, Cr George Brticevic.

“Campbelltown has lost one of its greatest advocates,’’ he said.

“Paul was committed to ensuring that the people and City of Campbelltown were at the forefront of government decision-making that would impact our community, and worked tirelessly to ensure that Council was in the best possible position to prepare for the tremendous growth that our area is experiencing.

“Today is a sad day for our city, and on behalf of myself, my fellow councillors, council’s executive team and staff, and our community, I extend heartfelt condolences to Paul’s family and loved ones.

“May we all remember him as a visionary, a passionate public figure, and a true advocate for all of us.

“He will be sadly missed,” Cr Brticevic said.

Paul Tosi started working with Campbelltown City Council as property manager in 1982.

He left for a period of time to work in the private sector and returned to council as the director of property parks and recreation in December 1987.

He held this position until his appointment as general manager of the council in December 1999.

Paul raised his family with wife Denise in Campbelltown, and his children were schooled in the area.

When he retired as GM in September 2015, Paul had served 33 years with Campbelltown City Council.

He was succeeded by Lindy Deitz.

“Paul was more than just an inspirational leader of the hundreds of council staff that worked with him at Campbelltown City Council,’’ Ms Deitz said today.

“He was exceptionally well respected across the local government industry, and by leaders of councils and organisations across Sydney – many of whom have shared their condolences with us today.

“He was a passionate member of the Campbelltown community, and through his roles at council, was instrumental in helping to put Campbelltown on the map and ensure that the voice of our community was heard by all levels of government,” Ms Deitz said.

“Whether you were someone who worked closely with Paul for many years, were part of the organisation at any time during Paul’s tenure, or had never met him but knew of his legacy, this is sad news for us all,” Ms Deitz said.