The mayor of one of Sydney’s largest councils has died on a flight home from China.
Tony Bleasdale, 77, was returning home this morning after a tour of Blacktown City Council’s twin cities in South Korea and China when he died suddenly.
Mr Bleasdale had been a councilor in Blacktown since 1996 before being elected mayor in 2019.
He was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2010 for his extensive charity work and services to the City of Blacktown.
With an estimated population of 426,000, Blacktown is the largest local government area in Sydney.
Blacktown City Council Mayor Tony Bleasdale (pictured) died on Friday morning at the age of 77 while flying home from China
Mr Bleasdale, a hardened Labor Party member, joined other local mayors in backing NSW Premier Chris Minns’ efforts to increase housing supply.
The state’s Deputy First Minister and Member for Londonderry, Prue Car, shared with X her shock at the sudden death of a ‘friend and mentor’.
“Tony was much loved within the Blacktown community and advocated fiercely for local residents for over thirty years,” Ms Car wrote.
“He was also a great friend and mentor to me as we worked together in our shared communities for many years.
“My thoughts and love are with Mayor Nina Bleasdale and all their family and loved ones.”
More to come.