Elaine Cassidy (mayor)

Elaine Armgard Cassidy (15 March 1930 – 21 February 2014) was a socially prominent[1][2][3][4] Australian teacher and municipal politician. She served as Mayor and Deputy Mayor in the local government area of the Municipality of Woollahra in Sydney.[5][6][7] Cassidy compiled and edited a Bicentennial book on the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney.[8]

Councillor

Elaine Cassidy
Mayor Municipality of Woollahra
In office
September 1988 – September 1989
Preceded bySusan Collett
Succeeded byHylda Rofe
Deputy Mayor of Woollahra
In office
September 1987 – September 1988
Preceded bySusan Collett
Succeeded byMargaret Carter
Personal details
Born(1930-03-15)15 March 1930
Strathfield, New South Wales
Died21 February 2014(2014-02-21) (aged 83)
Orange, New South Wales
Spouse(s)Derek Cassidy QC
EducationMeriden School
Macquarie Secretarial School
University of Sydney
OccupationTeacher

Birth and education

Cassidy (née Hirstman) was born in Strathfield, New South Wales, and was the first of two children of Margot (née Ludwig) and Frank Hirstman. She attended Meriden School and Macquarie Secretarial School, and then studied arts at the University of Sydney. She turned her focus to education and started teaching.[7]

Working life

Teaching

Frensham School at Mittagong was her first appointment, teaching geography, history and English to senior students. In her second year on staff, Cassidy became an economics teacher. In that year two of her Leaving Certificate students were placed first and third in the state in economics. After travelling abroad, and having children, she returned to teaching; first as a relief teacher at Kambala and then, from 1970 until 1974, teaching economics at Ascham.[9]

Public Relations

During the late-1950s in London Cassidy joined a public relations firm and specialised in fashion and theatre work. After her return to Sydney in 1960, she undertook the role of executive secretary and public relations officer for the fund-raising appeal to build the Sydney Opera House. She worked in that position until midway through her first pregnancy.

Community work

For two decades, Cassidy raised funds for the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and King George V Hospital appeals committees.[10] She was president of the Friends of the Australian Opera (now Friends of Opera Australia)[11] and in 1963 was the inaugural treasurer of the Women's Committee of the National Trust of Australia (New South Wales). In that role she role she was involved is setting up Lindesay, Darling Point, as the headquarters of the committee. Cassidy was a council member of the Benevolent Society for 16 years from 1990 and served as chairman of the management committee of the Royal Hospital for Women prior to its move from Paddington to Randwick. She was chairwoman of HMAS Rushcutter until the Commonwealth Government transferred the site to state ownership for public recreational use.[7]

Municipal government

Cassidy was elected to the Woollahra Municipal Council in 1979 and was elected Deputy Mayor in September 1987 and Mayor in September 1988. She served on the council until 1995. For six years, she was a member of the executive of the Local Government Association.[5][7]

Marriage and family

In 1961 she married Derek Cassidy, the son of Sydney Queen's Counsel Jack Cassidy and his wife Elaine (later Sir Jack and Lady Cassidy). The couple met at a bridge table during a blizzard in Thredbo.[12] The wedding was at St. Swithun's Church, Pymble and the bride wore a pinky beige guipure lace gown specially woven to order in Switzerland.[13] The union produced two children. Cassidy died on 21 February 2014 and was survived by her husband, Derek Cassidy QC, daughters, Edwena and Belinda, and three grandchildren.[7][9] Continuing her interest in competitive duplicate bridge, she achieved gold life master[7][14] status.

Portraits

Photographic portraits of Cassidy as a councillor and mayor are held by the Woollahra History Centre.[15][16][17][18]

Honours

Publications
  • Impressions of Woollahra, past and present (Sydney : Published on behalf of the Woollahra Bicentennial Community Committee by Allen & Unwin, 1988.)[20]

References
  1. "Social Gossip And Events". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 23 September 1953. p. 10. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  2. "ROUNDABOUT". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 26 April 1961. p. 17. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  3. "Hello Hello". The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 March 1975. p. 45. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  4. "Arts and entertainment". The Canberra Times. National Library of Australia. 18 July 1989. p. 18. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  5. Woollahra Council Meeting Minutes 10 March 2014.
  6. Women aldermen and councillors of Woollahra Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  7. Cassidy, Derek (16 April 2014). "Elaine Cassidy: Mayor was a champion bridge player". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  8. Cassidy, E.; Woollahra Bicentennial Community Committee (1988). Impressions of Woollahra, Past and Present: Compiled and Edited by Elaine Cassidy ... [et Al.] ; Introduction by Max Kelly. Woollahra Bicentennial Community Committee by Allen & Unwin. ISBN 9780043510711. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  9. SMH Tributes & Celebrations Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  10. "SOCIAL ROUNDABOUT". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 12 November 1969. p. 10. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  11. "Going Places With ROBIN AMADIO". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 15 October 1980. p. 18. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  12. "SOCIAL ROUNDABOUT". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 21 December 1960. p. 12. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  13. "[No heading]". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 19 April 1961. p. 25. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  14. "Master point scheme" (PDF). www.abfmasterpoints.com.au. 23 December 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  15. Ald. Elaine Cassidy, Woollahra Council, 1989, retrieved 13 August 2014
  16. Ald. Elaine Cassidy at Holdsworth Street, Woollahra, 1989, retrieved 13 August 2014
  17. Elaine Cassidy, Mayor of Woollahra 1989, 1989, retrieved 13 August 2014
  18. Elaine Cassidy, Woollahra's Mayor, attending the 1989 Children's Book Week, Woollahra Library [picture], retrieved 13 August 2014
  19. It's an Honour Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  20. Cassidy, Elaine; Woollahra Bicentennial Community Committee (1988), Impressions of Woollahra, past and present, Published on behalf of the Woollahra Bicentennial Community Committee by Allen & Unwin, ISBN 978-0-04-351071-1
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