By Cathy Jones (2026)
Virginia Judge served as a Councillor and Mayor of Strathfield and later as the State Member for Strathfield. Her period of public office spanned local and state government, with significant involvement in Strathfield Council between 1995 and 2004.
Virginia Judge was born in Cooma, New South Wales, the daughter of the late Cecily and Henry Judge. She worked as a primary and secondary school teacher in NSW and the ACT and was also employed as a project officer for a small non‑government organisation. She volunteered overseas as a teacher with Australian Volunteers Abroad and later worked in the real estate industry.
In September 1995, Virginia Judge was elected to Strathfield Council as an independent councillor while residing with her family in Redmyre Road, Strathfield. During her first term, her role in council decision‑making was limited due to the political composition of the council. The council term was extended beyond four years because of proposed amalgamation discussions with Burwood Council, which were later discontinued, leading to elections in July 2000. During this period, she developed a profile through consultation with residents and representation of community issues.
Virginia Judge was pre‑selected by the Australian Labor Party for the July 2000 council elections and led a team that secured four of the nine councillor positions. With minor party support, she was elected Mayor on 25 July 2000 and served until March 2003.
As Mayor, she introduced changes to council structures, including a reduction in executive management positions, abolition of multiple council committees, and the redirection of matters to regular council meetings. Site inspection committees were established for development applications, and staff resources were allocated to community development and media relations.
During her mayoralty, Virginia Judge conducted regular street and community meetings, later formalised as “Meet the Mayor” sessions held at council facilities and local shopping centres. Communication initiatives included the introduction of a council website, upgrades to the customer service centre, and publication of quarterly council newsletters distributed with rate notices. She also hosted volunteer recognition events, including a dinner for local residents who volunteered during the Sydney Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2000.
Environmental initiatives during her term included the introduction of mandatory rainwater tanks in new developments, solar lighting in residential common areas, expanded ranger services, support for the Kyoto Protocol, and enhanced waste management services including establishment of recycling, green waste and composting programs.
Planning and heritage initiatives included the establishment of a Heritage Advisory Committee, heritage conservation incentives, heritage awards, and a review of the Strathfield Planning Scheme Ordinance and preparation of a new Local Environmental Plan involving community summits and workshops. Public domain projects included park upgrades, landscape plan for the Powells Creek corridor, and improvements to shopping precincts including Homebush Shopping Village.
During her mayoralty, Strathfield Council adopted a balanced budget for 2001–2002 without loan borrowings and allocated funding for the Homebush Library. Civic projects included Federation Centenary celebrations, restoration of the Coronation Arch, installation of the Federation fountain in Strathfield Square, establishment of the Strathfield Eco Art Prize, and advocacy to the NSW Government for construction of a pedestrian bridge over The Boulevarde.
In March 2003, Virginia Judge was elected to the NSW Legislative Assembly as the Member for Strathfield and subsequently resigned as Mayor. She continued as a councillor until 2004 while serving in parliament. She was re‑elected in 2007 and served until 2011.
During her parliamentary career, she held roles including Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Minister for Education and Training and Industrial Relations, and later served as Minister for Fair Trading, Minister for Citizenship, and Minister Assisting the Premier on the Arts.
