Vale Clarrie Edwards

Clarrie Edwards, former Mayor and Alderman of Strathfield, has died.

Edwards (1937-2025) served on Strathfield Council from 1973 to 1983. He was elected Mayor for seven consecutive years in 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983, which is the longest consecutive period of any Mayor.  He was elected Deputy Mayor in 1976.  

Edwards managed the Homebush Newsagent in Rochester Street, Homebush for 22 years.  He was a foundation member of the Rotary Club of Strathfield and its third president.  Edwards had a keen interest in local history and was a key mover in founding the Strathfield District Historical Society in 1978.

Among his many achievements on Strathfield Council, he lead the successful opposition to the NSW Government’s plans to amalgamate Strathfield Council in 1983, built and opened the Strathfield Library in Rochester Street in 1976 and the Golf Driving Range at Hudson Park.  As Mayor, he presided over ceremonies which conferred citizenship to 1062 local residents and established the Strathfield State Emergency Services (SES). His special interests on Council included preservation of residential amenity, traffic management, economy and efficiency of Council operations, tree preservation including street trees throughout the Municipality.

He married Jean Vilia Ryan (1931-2020) and retired to Blackheath in the Blue Mountains in Sydney.