John Thomas Woodward (1 November 1934 – 6 August 2022) was an Australian sportsman, politician, lawyer, and public servant.
Early life
John Thomas Woodward was born in Watsons Bay, Australia on 1 November 1934.
He was a keen sailor, member of the Vaucluse Yacht Club. He skippered 'Flying Dutchman' to win the VJ Amateur Sailing Association, Commonwealth Championship of 1952-53 [1][2][3] and was Senior Club VJ Champion in 1953-54.[4]
Legal career
In 1959, Woodward completed a Bachelor of Laws at University of Sydney.[5] He concluded his direct involvement in the legal profession in 1974 as a solicitor / partner with Currie & Currie located in King St, Sydney.[6]
Political career
Woodward was an alderman from the Kirribilli ward of the North Sydney Council from 1965 to 1974, Deputy Mayor from December 1968 to December 1970, and Mayor of North Sydney from September 1971 to September 1972.[7][8] During his time with North Sydney Council, Woodward advocated protecting local heritage, reducing housing density and loss of trees, and establishing community services.[9]
From 1976 until 1979, Woodward was Director (in the Premiers Advisory Unit) reporting to Neville Wran, the Premier of NSW.[10]
A controversial and unsuccessful application for the relocation of a Bayer pesticide plant in Kurnell.[14]
A successful application for a BHP Mini Mill at Rooty Hill, NSW[15]
Between 1993 and 1996, he completed a further three environmental based inquiries:
Commonwealth Commission of Inquiry, Shoalwater Bay Capricornia Coast, Queensland, Australia.[16]
Commonwealth Commission of Inquiry, East Coast Armaments Complex Point Wilson, Victoria.[17]
A proposal for future use of lands at Lucas Heights : Lucas Heights mediation / Sutherland Shire Council and Waste Service NSW.[18]
In 1999 he completed an assessment into the amalgamation of the South Sydney, Randwick and Botany Bay councils.[19]
Later life
In his later years, he moved to Tokyo, Japan, where he died aged 87 on 6 August 2022. North Sydney Council passed a condolence motion at its meeting on 22 August 2022, with the motion from the mayor, Zoë Baker, acknowledging his "contribution to North Sydney and NSW, particularly, his legacy of a commitment to strong environmental sustainability and excellent town planning."[20]
^List of Available Reports(PDF), OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF INQUIRY FOR ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING, archived from the original(PDF) on 23 April 2011, retrieved 27 August 2011
^Woodward, John, 1934- (1989), An Inquiry into objections to a conservation order The Royal Automobile Club of Australia, 89 Macquarie Street, Sydney / John Woodward, Chairman, Commissioners of Inquiry for Environment and Planning, ISBN0-7305-5808-8{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^Woodward, John, 1934-; Allan, Pam, 1953-; Sutherland (N.S.W. : Shire). Council; Waste Service NSW; New South Wales. Office of Environmental Mediation and Inquiry (1996), A proposal for future use of lands at Lucas Heights : Lucas Heights mediation, Office of Environmental Mediation and Inquiry, retrieved 29 August 2011{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
