Vale Tony Foster, Tasmania’s Longest-Serving Mayor

Statement – Family of Tony Foster, 27 May 2024

Tasmania’s longest serving Mayor Tony Foster dies peacefully

Tasmania’s longest-serving local government mayor, Brighton Council’s Tony Foster died peacefully in the early hours of this morning, May 27 after a short illness.

Mr Foster was 81 years old.

Tony Foster, who served on the council for 35 years with 27 years as mayor and who retired in June 2021, oversaw significant growth and development in the Brighton municipality over three and a half decades.

Mr Foster was pivotal in gaining commitments from the Tasmanian Government for the new Bridgewater Bridge and the Brighton High School, the latter being a special achievement for him with the agreement signed while current Premier Jeremy Rockliff was Education Minister.

Tony Foster was a strong advocate for broadening local education opportunities, and he was particularly pleased when the agreement was reached for the high school to be built to cater for the needs of the fast-growing municipality.

Tony Foster was proud that over many years, he played a key role in achieving other significant initiatives in the Brighton Municipality.

These included:

• Advocating for and eventually gaining government approval for the new Brighton High School, with State Government funding in place, the site secured, and construction now underway.
• Establishing the Jordan River Learning Federation out of the ashes of the former Bridgewater High School.
• Championing Brighton as a refuge, firstly for Kosova and the Afghan refugees, where the community welcomed them and provided these people with new starts in life.
• Lobbying (quite relentlessly) for a replacement Bridgewater Bridge, with construction now a reality.
• The construction of the Brighton Bypass and the development of a new and welcoming streetscape for the Brighton township.
• The installing of the municipality’s Fair Rating regime which enabled the council to keep Brighton’s rate increases in line with CPI and offer the lowest residential rates in the state.
• The Bridgewater Parklands project.
• The Brighton Transport Hub.
• The Brighton Medical Centre.
• The Brighton Industrial and Housing Corporation.
• Significantly enhanced sporting facilities, particularly the Brighton Regional Sports Centre opened in the year of his retirement, and support for Brighton Eagles’ entry into Tasmanian Premier League cricket competition.
• The development of the Brighton Bowls and Community Club which he encouraged to become a true community facility catering for everyone, not just bowlers.
• The establishment and development of the former council-owned Microwise Australia technology business.
• Brighton’s early adoption of resource-sharing and establishing the South Central Sub-Region Councils’ group.
• The embracing of energy efficiency initiatives and other cost-savings measures.
• The establishment and maintenance of key road, bridge and other public infrastructure throughout the municipality.

At the time and on his retirement in 2021 Mr Foster said he was proud of what Brighton Council had achieved and that he had been able to play his part, first as a councillor and then in his years as mayor.

Brighton today is vastly different to that of 1985 when Tony Foster first joined the Brighton Council. Without doubt he made a significant contribution in taking the municipality forward as a progressive, welcoming and well-administered, growing region.

Mr Foster leaves his wife, Noeline and sons, Stephen and James, and their families.

*Former Brighton Mayor Tony Foster retired from Brighton Council on June 30 2021, after 36 years in local government and 28 continuous years as mayor. He was Tasmania’s longest serving mayor and was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for his service in 2005 and upgraded to a Member of the Order (AM) in 2015.

He passed away peacefully on Monday May 27, 2024.

Media release – Jeremy Rockliff, Premier, 27 May 2024

Vale Tony Foster

On behalf of the Tasmanian Government, I extend my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Tony Foster following his passing overnight.

A stalwart of his community, Mr Foster was Tasmania’s longest-serving mayor, dedicating 28 years to the role at Brighton Council.

Mr Foster was a tireless advocate for the Brighton community, serving on the council for 34 years.

It was an honour and privilege to work closely with Mr Foster throughout my time as Education Minister to establish the new Brighton High School, as well as deliver important upgrades to the Jordan River Learning Federation school.

Known for his integrity, good nature and vision, Mr Foster was a forward thinker who was driven by his passion for his local community and Tasmania.

I extend my sincere condolences to Mr Foster’s family, friends and the Brighton community.