Local Government NSW (LGNSW) President, Darriea Turley, has today expressed her great sadness at the recent passing of former Cobar Mayor, Peter Abbott, at the age of 77.
President Turley said Mr Abbott had been a “larger-than-life character” in Cobar for the past 54 years, since moving there from Sydney in 1969.
“Despite being a mining engineer by trade, Mr Abbott didn’t stay in the mining industry for long and branched out owning a pub and a newsagency in Cobar for almost 23 years,” she said.
He was first elected to council in August 2014, becoming Deputy Mayor six months later.
He held the Deputy role until 2021, when he was elected Mayor – a position he held until September this year.
“My sincere condolences to his wife, Carol, and family on behalf of the whole local government community,” said President Turley.
Cobar Mayor, Jarrod Marsden, told The Cobar Weekly he will miss Mr Abbott’s knowledge and wisdom.
“I held Peter Abbott in the highest regards as a person and for his contribution to Cobar in his time as a councillor and Mayor,” he said.
“Peter was an incredibly smart man and, when you put that with his passion for Cobar, it is no wonder he was so successful in his life.
“I already miss him terribly. We are poorer for his loss but we are so much richer for what he achieved in life.”
A memorial service will be held on Friday 3 November at 12 noon at Cobar Bowling and Golf Club to celebrate Peter’s life.
