I was saddened to hear of the passing of Shirley Adams, OAM.

Shirley’s passing comes as a shock because she served the Grafton community for such a long period of time; she almost seemed indestructible.

Shirley was a leader and stalwart of the community for decades. My first direct contact with Shirley was in 2000 just after I’d been elected Mayor of the then Maclean Shire Council and she was Mayor of Grafton City Council. Shirley commanded enormous respect from the community. She loved and she wore the Grafton colours with fierce loyalty whenever we met and wherever she went. She fought hard for what she believed in. Shirley was very old school and very proud of the Jacaranda City. She believed in etiquette and protocol and as Mayor of Grafton she set the bar high. She was a true blue Graftonite.

In addition to serving the community as a Councillor, Deputy Mayor and Mayor for a period spanning 24 years, she gave a long and distinguished service to the Girl Guide movement.

I know Shirley will be sorely missed by the community she loved. My thoughts are with her husband, John and with the rest of her family during this time of bereavement.  

Chris Gulaptis MP
Member for Clarence