'Great loss': community shock at death of Newcastle councillor
Cr Francis-Coan died on Monday after a short illness. She was 40.
Cr Francis-Coan was elected to ward three for the City of Newcastle council in October and worked as an organiser for the National Tertiary Education Union at the University of Newcastle.
Newcastle lord mayor Ross Kerridge said she was a passionate advocate for the community.
"I admired her thoughtful contributions and generally positive, honest and optimistic view of the world," Cr Kerridge told the Newcastle Herald.
"She had a charming personality and a great sense of humour.
"She took to being a ward councillor like a duck to water and she was hard-working for the community and was obviously really enjoying being a councillor and addressing issues for the community.
"It's a great loss for the council."
Within the council, Cr Francis-Coan served on the Youth Council Standing Committee, the Community and Culture Strategic Advisory Committee, and the Access Inclusion Standing Committee.
Cr Kerridge said she was a strong advocate for the youth of Newcastle and the arts.
"Obviously, as a Green, she was concerned about environmental and social issues and theatre, particularly for our young people, and venues for young people," he said.
"She was very keen to pursue openings for venues for young people like The Loft, which we used to have in Newcastle.
"She wanted to open things like that in Lambton and Wallsend, and we talked about that as a project we could work jointly on."
It is understood that Cr Francis-Coan was unwell at last Tuesday night's council meeting.
Council CEO Jeremy Bath praised her commitment to serving Newcastle and fighting for those less fortunate.
"Despite feeling unwell, she continued to perform her duties as a councillor last week, including attending events for Refugee Week, and the nighttime economy, as well as meeting with constituents, reflecting her unwavering commitment to the causes she cared about," Mr Bath said.
Former Greens councillor Michael Osborne described Cr Francis-Coan as a "fierce community campaigner, organiser, friend and colleague" and said he and his party members were shocked.
"Sinead was a dedicated and committed councillor whose selfless work for the broader community was unstinting," Mr Osborne said.
"Sinead's integrity and service has left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of working with her. This tragic loss is felt deeply by our members and wider party, and we extend our deepest sympathies to Sinead's family and loved ones.
"We stand together with all who will honour Sinead's legacy and memory."
Cr Francis-Coan and her family moved to Newcastle when she was six months old. She attended Jesmond's Heaton Public School and the Hunter School of Performing Arts in Broadmeadow.
In 2019, she ran for the seat of Wallsend in the NSW election, where she received 9.3 per cent of the vote.
Cr Francis-Coan's opponent at that election, Labor Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery, paid tribute to her community advocacy.
"She was my opponent in the 2019 election and despite political differences, I have nothing but kind words for her," Ms Hornery said.
"Sinead was a very warm-hearted person who was always kind, generous and respectful in her dealings with people.
"She was a fierce advocate for the things she believed in, but had a way of communicating with others that conveyed goodwill and warmth."
Cr Francis-Coan is survived by her mother, Lyndall, and sisters Roisin and Ciara.
The City of Newcastle will lower its flags to half-mast to mourn the shock death of Greens councillor Sinead Francis-Coan.
Cr Francis-Coan died on Monday after a short illness. She was 40.
Cr Francis-Coan was elected to ward three for the City of Newcastle council in October and worked as an organiser for the National Tertiary Education Union at the University of Newcastle.
Newcastle lord mayor Ross Kerridge said she was a passionate advocate for the community.
"I admired her thoughtful contributions and generally positive, honest and optimistic view of the world," Cr Kerridge told the Newcastle Herald.
"She had a charming personality and a great sense of humour.
"She took to being a ward councillor like a duck to water and she was hard-working for the community and was obviously really enjoying being a councillor and addressing issues for the community.
"It's a great loss for the council."
Within the council, Cr Francis-Coan served on the Youth Council Standing Committee, the Community and Culture Strategic Advisory Committee, and the Access Inclusion Standing Committee.
Cr Kerridge said she was a strong advocate for the youth of Newcastle and the arts.
"Obviously, as a Green, she was concerned about environmental and social issues and theatre, particularly for our young people, and venues for young people," he said.
"She was very keen to pursue openings for venues for young people like The Loft, which we used to have in Newcastle.
"She wanted to open things like that in Lambton and Wallsend, and we talked about that as a project we could work jointly on."
It is understood that Cr Francis-Coan was unwell at last Tuesday night's council meeting.
Council CEO Jeremy Bath praised her commitment to serving Newcastle and fighting for those less fortunate.
"Despite feeling unwell, she continued to perform her duties as a councillor last week, including attending events for Refugee Week, and the nighttime economy, as well as meeting with constituents, reflecting her unwavering commitment to the causes she cared about," Mr Bath said.
Former Greens councillor Michael Osborne described Cr Francis-Coan as a "fierce community campaigner, organiser, friend and colleague" and said he and his party members were shocked.
"Sinead was a dedicated and committed councillor whose selfless work for the broader community was unstinting," Mr Osborne said.
"Sinead's integrity and service has left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of working with her. This tragic loss is felt deeply by our members and wider party, and we extend our deepest sympathies to Sinead's family and loved ones.
"We stand together with all who will honour Sinead's legacy and memory."
Cr Francis-Coan and her family moved to Newcastle when she was six months old. She attended Jesmond's Heaton Public School and the Hunter School of Performing Arts in Broadmeadow.
In 2019, she ran for the seat of Wallsend in the NSW election, where she received 9.3 per cent of the vote.
Cr Francis-Coan's opponent at that election, Labor Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery, paid tribute to her community advocacy.
"She was my opponent in the 2019 election and despite political differences, I have nothing but kind words for her," Ms Hornery said.
"Sinead was a very warm-hearted person who was always kind, generous and respectful in her dealings with people.
"She was a fierce advocate for the things she believed in, but had a way of communicating with others that conveyed goodwill and warmth."
Cr Francis-Coan is survived by her mother, Lyndall, and sisters Roisin and Ciara.
The City of Newcastle will lower its flags to half-mast to mourn the shock death of Greens councillor Sinead Francis-Coan.
Cr Francis-Coan died on Monday after a short illness. She was 40.
Cr Francis-Coan was elected to ward three for the City of Newcastle council in October and worked as an organiser for the National Tertiary Education Union at the University of Newcastle.
Newcastle lord mayor Ross Kerridge said she was a passionate advocate for the community.
"I admired her thoughtful contributions and generally positive, honest and optimistic view of the world," Cr Kerridge told the Newcastle Herald.
"She had a charming personality and a great sense of humour.
"She took to being a ward councillor like a duck to water and she was hard-working for the community and was obviously really enjoying being a councillor and addressing issues for the community.
"It's a great loss for the council."
Within the council, Cr Francis-Coan served on the Youth Council Standing Committee, the Community and Culture Strategic Advisory Committee, and the Access Inclusion Standing Committee.
Cr Kerridge said she was a strong advocate for the youth of Newcastle and the arts.
"Obviously, as a Green, she was concerned about environmental and social issues and theatre, particularly for our young people, and venues for young people," he said.
"She was very keen to pursue openings for venues for young people like The Loft, which we used to have in Newcastle.
"She wanted to open things like that in Lambton and Wallsend, and we talked about that as a project we could work jointly on."
It is understood that Cr Francis-Coan was unwell at last Tuesday night's council meeting.
Council CEO Jeremy Bath praised her commitment to serving Newcastle and fighting for those less fortunate.
"Despite feeling unwell, she continued to perform her duties as a councillor last week, including attending events for Refugee Week, and the nighttime economy, as well as meeting with constituents, reflecting her unwavering commitment to the causes she cared about," Mr Bath said.
Former Greens councillor Michael Osborne described Cr Francis-Coan as a "fierce community campaigner, organiser, friend and colleague" and said he and his party members were shocked.
"Sinead was a dedicated and committed councillor whose selfless work for the broader community was unstinting," Mr Osborne said.
"Sinead's integrity and service has left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of working with her. This tragic loss is felt deeply by our members and wider party, and we extend our deepest sympathies to Sinead's family and loved ones.
"We stand together with all who will honour Sinead's legacy and memory."
Cr Francis-Coan and her family moved to Newcastle when she was six months old. She attended Jesmond's Heaton Public School and the Hunter School of Performing Arts in Broadmeadow.
In 2019, she ran for the seat of Wallsend in the NSW election, where she received 9.3 per cent of the vote.
Cr Francis-Coan's opponent at that election, Labor Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery, paid tribute to her community advocacy.
"She was my opponent in the 2019 election and despite political differences, I have nothing but kind words for her," Ms Hornery said.
"Sinead was a very warm-hearted person who was always kind, generous and respectful in her dealings with people.
"She was a fierce advocate for the things she believed in, but had a way of communicating with others that conveyed goodwill and warmth."
Cr Francis-Coan is survived by her mother, Lyndall, and sisters Roisin and Ciara.
The City of Newcastle will lower its flags to half-mast to mourn the shock death of Greens councillor Sinead Francis-Coan.
Cr Francis-Coan died on Monday after a short illness. She was 40.
Cr Francis-Coan was elected to ward three for the City of Newcastle council in October and worked as an organiser for the National Tertiary Education Union at the University of Newcastle.
Newcastle lord mayor Ross Kerridge said she was a passionate advocate for the community.
"I admired her thoughtful contributions and generally positive, honest and optimistic view of the world," Cr Kerridge told the Newcastle Herald.
"She had a charming personality and a great sense of humour.
"She took to being a ward councillor like a duck to water and she was hard-working for the community and was obviously really enjoying being a councillor and addressing issues for the community.
"It's a great loss for the council."
Within the council, Cr Francis-Coan served on the Youth Council Standing Committee, the Community and Culture Strategic Advisory Committee, and the Access Inclusion Standing Committee.
Cr Kerridge said she was a strong advocate for the youth of Newcastle and the arts.
"Obviously, as a Green, she was concerned about environmental and social issues and theatre, particularly for our young people, and venues for young people," he said.
"She was very keen to pursue openings for venues for young people like The Loft, which we used to have in Newcastle.
"She wanted to open things like that in Lambton and Wallsend, and we talked about that as a project we could work jointly on."
It is understood that Cr Francis-Coan was unwell at last Tuesday night's council meeting.
Council CEO Jeremy Bath praised her commitment to serving Newcastle and fighting for those less fortunate.
"Despite feeling unwell, she continued to perform her duties as a councillor last week, including attending events for Refugee Week, and the nighttime economy, as well as meeting with constituents, reflecting her unwavering commitment to the causes she cared about," Mr Bath said.
Former Greens councillor Michael Osborne described Cr Francis-Coan as a "fierce community campaigner, organiser, friend and colleague" and said he and his party members were shocked.
"Sinead was a dedicated and committed councillor whose selfless work for the broader community was unstinting," Mr Osborne said.
"Sinead's integrity and service has left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of working with her. This tragic loss is felt deeply by our members and wider party, and we extend our deepest sympathies to Sinead's family and loved ones.
"We stand together with all who will honour Sinead's legacy and memory."
Cr Francis-Coan and her family moved to Newcastle when she was six months old. She attended Jesmond's Heaton Public School and the Hunter School of Performing Arts in Broadmeadow.
In 2019, she ran for the seat of Wallsend in the NSW election, where she received 9.3 per cent of the vote.
Cr Francis-Coan's opponent at that election, Labor Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery, paid tribute to her community advocacy.
"She was my opponent in the 2019 election and despite political differences, I have nothing but kind words for her," Ms Hornery said.
"Sinead was a very warm-hearted person who was always kind, generous and respectful in her dealings with people.
"She was a fierce advocate for the things she believed in, but had a way of communicating with others that conveyed goodwill and warmth."
Cr Francis-Coan is survived by her mother, Lyndall, and sisters Roisin and Ciara.
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