Jim McCredie

Passionate Community Activist

Jim receiving a certificate of appreciation from the Mayor and President of the Chatswoood West Ward Progress Association.

Jim was a stalwart of the Chatswood West Ward community.

Jim had retired fairly early from his role as an engineer working at a variety of Naval bases around  the world.

A good engineer has the following characteristics : insatiable curiosity; continuously seeking to improve things; creativity and innovation; problem Solving; good soft skills Including communication and leadership; a team player; mathematical and analytical abilities; logical thinking plus attention to detail. Jim had all of these characteristics in spades.

An avid enthusiast of planes, boats and trains, Jim studied aeronautical engineering at Sydney University. His career included contributing to the design of planes while working with the Government Aircraft Factory, and undersea testing of defence equipment with the Navy Research Laboratory. In the early 1980’s Jim was posted to the USA with his family, to take up a position with the Australian Department of Defence in Washington DC.

After his professional career, Jim was an active contributor to numerous local community organisations including as President of the Chatswood West Ward Progress Association for many years. For his service he was named the 2004 Willoughby Citizen of the Year. He was also a key contributor to the establishment of the local Community Fire Unit.

Living with Parkinson’s disease for over 20 years, Jim became an avid supporter and advocate of Parkinson’s Research. (Obit.)

I first met Jim when I was President of the Chatswood West Ward Progress Association in 1994. Jim would attend our meetings, sit quietly for a lot of the time then toward the end of the discussion or debate provide us with a most sage opinion. These were well thought out and constructed. His arguments were invariably compelling enough that often people who previously differed from his position accepted his advice. Not an inconsequential feat.

During his time as President of the west Ward Progress Association Jim produced regular Newsletters. He never had any trouble commandeering 20 or so members of the Association to hand deliver these Newsletters to 7,000 households in the Ward. A 2012 edition of the West Ward News he covered the following topics (IN METICULOUS DETAIL):

Sydney in 25 years discussion paper ……………….. 2

Brad Hazzard’s Planning Green Paper …………….. 2

“Have your say Willoughby!” Internet Forums ……. 2

Mayor Candidate: Pat Reilly ……………………………. 3

Mayor Candidate: Stuart Coppock …………………… 3

Optional Preferential voting …………………………….. 3

Ward Candidate Resumes ……………………………… 4

Chatswood CBD Traffic Study…………………………. 5

New Interest In Road Tunnels …………………………. 5

Willoughby Local Environment Plan …………………. 6

Mayor objects to Westfield Parking charge ……….. 7

Branch Library hours extended ……………………….. 7

Swimming in Willoughby ………………………………… 8

Willoughby Fauna Fair …………………………………… 8

His knowledge of both local, state and federal matters was substantive. Eight pages of honed information in Jim’s unique style. The feedback we received on the Black & White newsletter was ALWAYS favourable.

After becoming President of the CWWPA Jim became one of their representatives on the Federation of Willoughby Progress Association, a role he undertook for many years until illness curtailed his enthusiasm. The Federation consisted of the many Progress Associations of the Willoughby area. They naturally had varying views as to what was important. Jim with his sagacity was able to reign in the desire of any association to talk at length about their specific needs and keep the meetings focused on strategic initiatives. For this we also thank him.

During his time as President of both CWWPA and the Federation, Jim would regularly attend Council meetings. These were then held weekly and went for hours. From time-to-time he would request to address Council and answer questions (sometimes inane) of Councillors. On other occasions he would sit in the back row of the chambers from start to finish of the meetings. Eventually Mayor Pat Reilly would note that he still had not left the meeting and ask Mr McCredie if he wished to address Council. “No. Just here to listen”. For many Councillors Jim became known as the fourteenth Councillor.

After the 1994 bushfires in the West Ward residents wanted to help authorities fight any future fires. A number of people including Jim and myself petitioned the NSW Fire Brigade to allow them to do this. We were successful and the Progress Association received a $10,000 grant and the promise of equipment and training from the NSW Fire Brigade. This was in the form of a Community Fire Unit. A box trailer filled with firefighting equipment. Members of the CFUs were obliged to undertake monthly training. Jim was there from the start. Subsequently we were able to convince them that due to the unique topography of West Ward that we needed three units. One was for Fullers Rd, one on Mowbray Rd and a third unit with Jim as the Captain.

Another undertaking that Jim took on was Chairing public meetings for candidates for election. These could be quite vitriolic. On one occasion a candidate of a political party threatened to sue the Association. The President ‘stared them down’. The threat did not persist.

In July 2017 Her Worship the Mayor Councillor G Giles-Gidney acknowledged Jim McCready (sic) who was presented with a certificate of appreciation at the Chatswood West Progress Association Meeting.

Unfortunately ,Jim’s illness worsened. He politely asked the Associations if they would mind if he stood down (always the gentlemen). By that time I had retired from Council and soon became the Secretary of the Association. Every month I would pick-up Jim and his wheelchair to drive to meetings and back. Generally, he would sit quietly at the back of the meeting but contributing to matters where his knowledge and experience shone through.

Jim will be greatly missed by the residents of the West Ward.

Terry Fogarty

Former Willoughby City Councilour Acting/Deputy Mayor (17 years).

or and President of the Chatswood West Ward Progress Association