Harold James Sternbeck AM
Date: 07-Jul-10
Author: Mayor Alison Davey
It is with sadness that I acknowledge the passing of Harold Sternbeck AM. Harold gave a lifetime of extraordinary service and achievement... and through his strength of character... and his integrity became one of the City's most highly regarded and respected citizens, attaining Freeman of the City status in 2009.
He was elected as an Alderman to Cessnock City Council from 1962 - 1987 - giving 25 years of service to this City.
Harold was involved with the Hunter Valley Conservation Trust as a valued member from its inception in 1989 until his retirement in 2007 and his involvement included:
- Trustee from 1968-1972
- Deputy Chairman 1972 - 1990
- Chairman 1990 - 2004
- Founding Chairman of the Trust's Williams River Total Catchment Management Committee
- Accepted the Thiess National Riverprize on behalf of the Trust in 2003
Harold was also involved with the NSW Flood Mitigation Authority as
- Executive Member from 1972.
- Chairman from 1991 to 1999
- Deputy Chairman 2003-2004
- Appointed the First Life Member of the Flood Mitigation Authority in 2005 and continued interest in local and statewide floodplain management issues.
Harold was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1996 - for service to conservation through the Hunter Valley Conservation Trust, and for service to Local Government.
By profession Harold was a Real Estate Agent and Auctioneer, highly regarded and respected by his peers - providing on a voluntary basis his much sought after auctioneering skills to many clubs and local service and sporting organisations for charitable and sporting purposes.
In 1988 he was elected Chairman of the Hunter branch of the Real Estate Institute in NSW.
Harold was the longest serving active Member of Cessnock Lions Club from 1954 onwards.
- Awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship the highest award in Lionism in 1993 and
- Honoured with Life membership of Lions in 2003.
And in 2000 the H J Sternbeck Park was named in his honour in recognition of his contribution to the community of Cessnock.
For almost 20 years Harold was an active committee member in various facets of operations in the Cessnock & District Agricultural Association
He was a man of great humility and invariably referred to himself as "an ordinary fellow". If this was so, then he was an extraordinary "ordinary fellow" which is evident by his achievements.
Tonight we pay tribute to his service, his achievements and to his extraordinary record of leadership and service to our City, to the Hunter Valley and wider areas of NSW.... .
