JOHN FAKER, MAYOR OF BURWOOD: THE VISION AND THE PRACTICE

When does a busy mayor of a vibrant Sydney municipality find time to go back to school? John Faker, currently Mayor of Burwood, recently came back to De La Salle College Ashfield to share memories, and meet the incumbent Year 12 Leaders.

John, of Lebanese heritage, is a proud first-generation Australian; he was a Senior Student Councillor in 1991, and now has a family of four children from 20 to 13 years of age. Starting studies at Western Sydney University in economics, in view of stockbroking, within ten years, he switched to local politics, being elected to Burwood Council in 2002. Within three years, he was elected Mayor, and for the last 17 years!

To John, “It’s about having a vision for wanting to see Burwood the best place to live, thrive and enjoy … creating  a culture that really respects the community and brings it with you in the decision-making”. That’s the vision that he could talk about easily when seeing the huge changes in his old alma mata.

Talking to the current student leaders, he suggested “grab that confidence from where people have put you – and use it for good”.  Important personal qualities are “transparency, openness, honesty, supporting, giving guidance, integrity”. As for the College motto ‘Esto Vir’, John interprets it as ‘being the best person you can be’, and that the message of De La Salle, as Christians, is carrying those values - “accepting people from different faiths that are not like us”. This is – and was for him – character formation.

John has regular memories of friendships and classmates from school. He remembers some teachers vividly – Gerri Grey, his English teacher, Brian Ogle and especially his rugby league and sports coach – Joe Evans – who called him “Mr. P”. Down the track, the teacher when asked what it meant, told him “Mr. Potential”.

John mentioned that before he was elected a school leader, he hadn’t noted the potential in himself. On the school leaders’ retreat, he was taught that from a comment of one of the teacher participants. He also learned how important the Word of God was: the words of Jesus given by John 14– “Do not let your hearts be troubled…trust in God…and me” has stayed with him and supported him on his mayoral journey.

In his career of political leadership, John pointed to two over-riding values- family and his Maronite Catholic faith.  “Family is the story…is our story. That what all the goals are about, and encouragement and guidance and church…values I am proud of”.

He talks of an important decision-making time, when reflecting on the possibility of entering state Labor politics. His Maronite bishop said to gather the family, pray the rosary and you will get the answer. When followed, he was enlightened when his elder children became tearful at the suggestion of taking on higher office.

In the last direct mayoral elections, John garnered 70% of the vote. He says he was ‘grateful, humbled”. On Saturdays, he is in parks, shopping strips and the streets: if you have issues, concerns, come and talk to the Mayor, the notices say.

With many other programs, the Beats and Eats Festival, Small Business Month and the annual Autumn Festival, Burwood, shows the vibrancy of a strikingly multicultural community in the inner west of Sydney. The Council is pioneering 8 projects in a $20m. fully-funded program from WestInvest.

Yes, politics is a tough job. Sometimes there are wrong decisions. The next step is what new strategies and policies we can put in place. And in your attitudes, don’t be a bigot! Ultimately, God decides.

(Author: Br Gary Wilson fsc)