Cobar stops to farewell mayor Brady
![Cobar in NSW has honoured its long-serving mayor Lilliane Brady with a state funeral.](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/S-2050154/1613704667401_Brady_16-9_20425953_2050154_20210219100244671662ad-8fe0-4cb3-92dd-6d31c064c98f.jpg_sd_1280x720.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
The small central western NSW town of Cobar came to a standstill to farewell its beloved mayor of more than 20 years with a state funeral.
Flags across NSW were flown at half mast on Friday to honour the remarkable life of the state's longest serving female mayor Lilliane Brady - whose benevolent reign over the township lasted nearly 23 years until her death earlier this month at the age of 90.
Shops in the outback mining town were closed and signs expressing love and support for Cr Brady were strung along the main street.
Covered in red roses and her mayoral chains, her casket was flanked by a 150-person guard of honour as police and locals lined the streets for her final journey through town where she lived for more than 50 years.
Politicians, including deputy premier John Barilaro, came from all over the state to remember her.
Cobar Shire Council general manager Peter Vlatko delivered the eulogy at Drummond Park, admitting it was a difficult task.
But he knew exactly what advice his colleague would have given him: "Suck it up princess and get on with it."
He said the words most often used to describe Cr Brady were: "passion, vigour, energy, affection, proud ... no bullshit, straightshooter, horse lover - and many more that I can't say in public".
Although small in stature, he noted she was renowned for her no-nonsense approach and dogged fundraising for others in her community of 4000, as well as her contempt for bureaucracy during her time as mayor.
She reluctantly moved to Cobar from Sydney with her husband Dr Allan Brady and three children the 1960s for 12 months - before falling in love with the town.
By 1974 she had earned a spot on the Shire Council where she remained for more than 45 years, and had planned to retire in September.
By 1982 Cobar opened the Lilliane Brady Village, a 34-bed not-for-profit facility including a hostel and a nursing home, plus a multipurpose health centre connecting the village.
She was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2001 for services to local government and a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2012 for service to local government and to the community of Cobar.
Last year she was awarded the Minister for Local Government Award for her commitment to increasing participation of women in local government.
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails