Bill Mac receives Key to the City
by Greg Martin
Blacktown City Council has developed a reputation for looking after its own and that reputation is further enhanced with Lord Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM , awarding his fellow Order of Australia recipient Bill McNamara the Key to the City .
Bill McNamara is a former Hawkesbury ’ s Finest subject – and for many good reasons .
“ Bill has been a great servant to Blacktown for over 60 years , helping transform Blacktown City into the modern city it is today ,” said Mayor Bleasdale . “ Thanks to his knowledge and foresight , Bill led the way in the 1970s with the biggest single development in Blacktown , WestPoint Shopping Centre . He was not only a businessman but a true community leader and gave generously of his time to his community .
“ As Mayor of Blacktown City , it is a great honour to present the Key to the City to Bill for his unparalleled innovation and community service .”
The McNamara Group delivered many large developments that have shaped both Blacktown and Western Sydney over the past 50 years .
Bill ’ s business was responsible for WestPoint Shopping Mall at Blacktown and Marketown Shopping Centre at Riverstone , Mount Druitt High School , Riverstone Schofields Memorial Club and Blacktown Aquatic Centre - all landmark projects !
McNamara Group built many of the most important buildings in Parramatta - the McNamara Centre , the Octagon , the United Permanent building , the Parramatta Cultural Centre , the J . A . Fleming Stand at Rosehill and the Riverside Theatres .
Bill also built many facilities for the Royal Australian Army , as well as the Royal Australian Air Force Base at Richmond .
He served on numerous community boards , was Chair of the Economic Development Board of Greater Western Sydney for four years and served as a board member of BCC ’ s Blacktown Venue Management Limited .
This wonderful man was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1984 and in 2017 was Blacktown City Council ’ s Corporate Citizen of the Year .
The Bill McNamara story begins when former bushies , Harry and Olive McNamara arrived in Riverstone in 1920 when Harry found a job as a stockman and buyer at Riverstone Meat Works .
Harry and Oliver already had Molly and
Riverstone legend , Bill McNamara is the centre of attention between two ardent admirers , Blacktown Mayor Tony Bleasdale , and Councillor Julie Griffiths . The pair had great pleasure in presenting Bill with a Key to the City .
Jack “ on the books ” when they arrived here and over the ensuing years added Tommy , Bill , Monica and Brian to the brood .
The family also operated a poultry farm on Carnarvon Road until Harry was tragically killed in a car accident at Bowral in 1938 , forcing Olive and the six children to sell up and move back into town where the family set up a smaller chook business on Riverstone Road .
Olive - “ Mrs Mac ” to everyone in the community , was a tireless supporter of the Red Cross during World War II and imparted a passion for her town onto her sons and daughters .
Mrs Mac lived until 94 and is buried alongside her beloved Harry at Riverstone Cemetery . All Bill ’ s brothers and sisters contributed greatly to society and making our world a better place .
Bill always wanted to be a builder as a young kid , mending whatever needed to be repaired on the family farm and when Bill puts his mind to something , he generally attains his goal .
After completing his indenture as an apprentice carpenter , firstly at the meatworks and then with a home builders , Jim Hanney and Athol Rankin , he stayed in their employment for two years before branching out on his own .
And branch out he did , turning his one-man operation into one of the state ’ s biggest building firms , McNamara Group Constructions .
Bill , still chugging along nicely at 94 despite a few medical problems , has had a lifelong association with the Riverstone Razorbacks ( nee Butchers ) Rugby League Club – player , supporter , administrator , successful coach and for yonks now , the club patron .
Over a half century ago , Bill purchased a 53-acre orange and mandarin orchard along the banks of the Hawkesbury River near Wiseman ’ s Ferry and developed it into the fabulous Del Rio Resort which has a reputation as one of the best holidays venues in the state .
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THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 146 // JULY 2022 9