- Mayor of Strathfield 1989-1990, 1990-1991 and 1995.
- Deputy Mayor 1980-1981, 1993-1994, 1994-1995
- Alderman 1975-1983, 1991-1995
By Cathy Jones
John Elvy served on Strathfield Council from 1975 to 1983. He was elected at an ordinary/extraordinary election following the death of Alderman Lawrence Raw.
John Elvy served on Strathfield Council for multiple terms. He was first elected on 2 August 1975 at a by-election following the death of Alderman Laurence Raw. He served from 1975-1977, 1977-1980 and 1980-1983. He served as Deputy in Mayor 1981.
Elvy contested the Sydney City Council election in 1984 and served on the Sydney City Council until it’s dismissal in 1987. Elvy was re-elected to Strathfield Council in 1987 and served until 1995. He served as Mayor in 1989-1991 and in 1995, which was his final year on Council.
He served as Vice-Chairman of Building & Planning Committee (1978, 1979 and 1980) and Works Committee (1981, 1982 and 1983).
Elvy was Alderman of Sydney City Council, Phillip Ward from 14 April 1984 until 26 March 1987 when the Council was replaced by a three-member Commission. He was a member of the Works and Housing Committee and the Properties Committee in 1984. In 1985, he was appointed a member of the Properties and Housing Committee, 1985-1986 and the Building and Development Committee, 1986-1987. He served as an alternate member of the Maritime Services Board Foreshores Building Committee of Advice and became a member of the Committee to Investigate All Aspects of Outdoor Eatery Establishments in 1984. Elvy represented the Liberal Party on Sydney City Council.
Elvy recorded an interview in 1993 with Yvonne Gibbons. He spoke about the upgrading of Strathfield Park in the mid-1980’s, the impact of changes to the Local Government Act in 1993 and his service on the City Council. He spoke about being instrumental in having a time capsule inserted in Strathfield Square to be opened in 2088, the over 530 new citizens naturalised during his term and the Sydney City Council grant to celebrate the Bicentennial being used to upgrade Strathfield Square in preparation for the Olympic 2000 Games.
References
Gibbons, Y., 1993, ‘John Elvy interview’
Perdon R, 1997, Sydney’s Aldermen, City of Sydney Council
Strathfield Council meeting minutes
Strathfield Heritage 