FOKE was pleased that a Mayoral Minute for FOKE member, Dr Tony Recsei.

Read it below:

KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL MAYORAL MINUTE: Vale Tony Recsei: Respected Volunteer and Community Leader

“On behalf of Council and the Ku-ring-gai community this Mayoral Minute pays tribute to well-known Ku-ring-gai resident Tony Recsei, who passed away unexpectedly last month while on holiday in South Africa.

Tony Recsei was a highly respected member of the Ku-ring-gai community and longstanding Warrawee resident. Born in South Africa, he was Managing Director of pharmaceutical company Pharmador which his father had started in the 1930s.

Being a successful businessman was just one part of Tony’s life however. He was passionate about flying, earning his commercial pilot’s licence at an early age and flying around Australia in the Piper Twin Cherokee that he owned.

Tony was a devoted Rotarian; eventually becoming President of Turramurra Rotary Club.  He was also a gifted pianist who was President of the Sydney Mozart Society; a not-for-profit organisation devoted to raising awareness of classical music.

Many will remember Tony for his activism on planning matters which he led on behalf of Ku-ring-gai and the wider Sydney community.

In 2000, he established the Save Our Suburbs organisation to oppose State government urban consolidation policies. He was staunchly opposed to forced rezonings in local communities, believing that they led to over-development and environmental degradation.

Right up to his death, Tony Recsei continued to call for governments to introduce planning reforms to protect residents from inappropriate development. He wrote several research papers on planning issues and engaged in discussions with the NSW Department of Planning and the Urban Taskforce, among others, to argue the case against over-development.

Tony married Greta Behrmann in 1960 and they remained together for more than 60 years until his death. He is survived by Greta, children Derek and Elaine, grandchildren Carl, Krista, Bryce and Giselle and great-granddaughter June. Our sincere condolences to Tony’s family on his untimely passing. He was a highly cultured and much loved family man, as well as being a tireless advocate for the causes he believed in. May he rest in peace.”

Resolved:

(Moved: The Mayor, Councillor Ngai)

A.      That the Mayoral Minute be received and noted.

B.      That we stand for a minute’s silence to honour Tony Recsei.

C.      That the Mayor write to Tony Recsei’s family and encloses a copy of the Mayoral Minute.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY at the ORDINARY MEETING OF KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL, HELD ON TUESDAY, 17 OCTOBER 2023, LEVEL 3, KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL CHAMBER