Unique IDPE-000002SurnameO'DeaGiven namesErnest CharlesBirth date1st January 1889Death date1st January 1976Biographical noteErnest Charles O'Dea was born in Armidale in 1889. His family moved to Camperdown in 1896. He was educated at the Christian Brothers College, Newtown. At 14, he left school and worked in Edward Fay's Pitt Street Boot Store. O'Dea joined the Shop Assistants Union in 1913 and the following year, he was appointed Union Organiser and two years later Assistant General Secretary. In 1919, he became the Union's General Secretary.
In 1924, O'Dea entered politics as ALP candidate and was elected to represent the Camperdown Ward in the Sydney City Council. Alderman O'Dea was known for his interest in Civic Services such as the establishment of parks and playgrounds and other amenities for the city residents. During his stint in the Council, O'Dea served as Vice-Chairman, Works Committee in 1926, the Health & Recreations Committee in 1948 and the City Planning and Improvements Committee from 1957-1960.
Alderman O'Dea was also a Councillor of The Sydney County Council between 1935 and 1937 and 1954 to1960. He was its chairman in 1958. He became Lord Mayor in 1949 when Sydney expanded to include the municipalities of Alexandria, Darlington, Erskineville, Glebe, Paddington, Newtown, Redfern and Waterloo. A massive structural reorganisation of the City took place.
The Food for Britain Fund that was inaugurated in 1945 was continued by Alderman O'Dea. He personally visited London to close the overseas affairs of the Fund and supervised the disposal of large quantities of foodstuff that were collected under the Gift Parcel Scheme. This project was, at that time, considered the most successful appeal ever undertaken in the country with foodstuffs valued over £2 million distributed in the British Isles.
In 1960, Mrs. Johanna Ellen O'dea, the wife of Lord Mayor O'Dea died. Mrs. O'Dea was remembered for her work and contributions to charitable organisations and citizens during her four terms as Lady Mayoress, between 1949 and 1952.
On 21 June 1965, through the recommendation of then Lord Mayor H.F. Jensen, the outstanding service of Alderman O'Dea to local govenrment, the trade union Movement and his participation in many fields of public and philanthropic activities were recognised by Council and a commendation honouring his almost four decades service to the City was recovered. His other civic community and charitable works included a membership on the Board of The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
Alderman O'Dea was elected as member of the Legislative Council for the State of New South Wales in 1943. He retired in 1967. O'Dea died on 21 November 1976 at the age of 87, after serving in local goverment for almost 39 years.Relationship legacy dataRELATED TO: Private interests FN-0027
RELATED TO: Mayoralty / Lord Mayoralty FN-0023 Occupational history1913-1919 Executive, Union Organiser, Assistant General Secretary and General Secretary, Shop Assistants' Union
1924-1927 Alderman of Sydney City Council
1930-1965 Alderman of Sydney City Council
1949-1952 Lord Mayor of Sydney City Council
1943-1967 Member of the Legislative CouncilSource system ID2
