Councillor Antoine (Tony) Issa OAM Biography

Antoine (Tony) Issa immigrated to Australia from Lebanon in 1973 and become an Australian Citizen in 1976. Tony was elected as a Councillor in 1987 as a representative of the Woodville Ward of Parramatta City Council, of which two terms were served as Deputy Lord Mayor.

Tony is the longest serving Lebanese Councillor in Local Government and is a three time candidate for the NSW State elections. In November 2007, Tony received a NSW Local Government Award for over 20 years of service in Local Government.

Tony is involved in various community organisations, churches, schools and has a good rapport with youth welfare groups and the local police, serving on the Police Consultative Committee. Tony received an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for serving the community and local government in 1995.

In 1989 Tony helped establish a youth group with the objective to aid the understanding between youths and their parents and to advise them of the dangers of drugs and alcohol in today’s society. In this regard, Tony has organised seminars about drugs and the AIDS virus which were conducted by qualified doctors.

A summary of Tony’s other achievements in the areas of community, welfare and public interest are:

• Served at the Granville Multicultural Centre for three years as Treasurer and four years as President
• On the Board for the Australian Lebanese Welfare Group
• Elected school representative on the Catholic Diocesan Parramatta Regional Council
• In 1988 Tony served on the Committee of the Bicentenary
• Served eight years on Western Sydney Assistant Services Ranking Committee
• Appointed board director of WSROC
• Chairman of the Sister City organisation
• Appointed by the Minister of finance to represent the consumer in Australia on the Finance Complaint Services Board
• Justice of the Peace since 1982

Tony feels passionately about helping those new to Australia and assisting them in settling into their new way of life, by liaising with the Department of Housing and Department of Immigration on behalf of the community.