Harvey Ford

Mayor [1965-66] & Alderman [1960-68]

Harvey Ford was elected to Council at an extraordinary election following the death of Alderman Stanley Hedges. Harvey Ford was born at Summer Hill but lived in Strathfield all his life until March 2000 when he and his wife, Shirley moved to Drummoyne. Educated at Trinity Grammar Preparatory School in Strathfield and Trinity Grammar in Summer Hill, where he graduated in 1939.

World War II started before Harvey left school but he completed two years of law at Sydney University during which he rose to the rank of Sergeant in the Sydney University Regiment. At the end of 1941 his studies were put on hold when he joined the 39th Anti-Aircraft Battery and served in Northern Queensland. Harvey left the Army to join the RAAF and completed further training in Edmonton Canada before serving as a navigator with Bomber Command, flying Halifax aircraft over Germany. He was discharged from the Air Force in 1946.

Harvey Ford was admitted as a solicitor in May 1948 and in September 1948, married Shirley at St Anne’s Anglican Church in Strathfield. Harvey Ford died in December 2000 and his funeral was held at St Anne’s Church.

Harvey Ford was the grandson of Ebenezer Ford, Mayor of Enfield and son of solicitor Emil Ford. He recorded an oral history with Strathfield Council in 1993 and the transcripts are available at Strathfield Library. Ford Street and Ford Park were formerly located in Enfield Council and are named for Ebenezer Ford.

Reference

Harvey Ford Obituary, Strathfield Scene, Vol 7 No. 9 January/February 2001, p 3 with details provided by the Ford family.