Section 691A of the former Local Government Act 1960 of Western Australia, provided that a Council may, by resolution passed by an absolute majority of the members voting hereon at a meeting of the Council, confer upon any person the title of “Honorary Freeman of the Municipality”, but the conferring of that title upon a person does not grant any right or privilege other than that of permitting that person to be designated by the title so conferred.

Although this legislation has since been revoked, the City has continued with the tradition following the inaugural bestowal of Honorary Freemanship upon Maurice Edgar Hamer OBE JP in 1972.

Local Government has been built on tradition through the centuries. Some traditions have lapsed in modern times and it is the more pleasing then, to see old traditions revived, or perhaps, new ones created.

Some cities in the old world can trace the bestowal of the title of Honorary Freeman through the records maintained and preserved for more than six centuries. The early development of a town was largely influenced by the freemen. These were the group of townsmen who in the early middle ages choose their Mayor by acclamation.

The early freemen were also known as burgesses and a newly appointed burgess was given a “Burgess Certificate” which was a parchment document recording his admission and bearing the signature of the Mayor and the Town Clerk.

The Honorary Freeman of the City of modern times is quite different from the more common bestowal of the title in bygone ages. It has long been accepted that the status of freeman is the greatest honour which can be bestowed on a citizen by a municipal corporation. It follows that this title would be granted to eminent citizens in recognition of their services to their city and their country. In Britain the custom lapsed for 50 years during the nineteenth century, but many names distinguished in British history have entered the ranks of Honorary Freeman through the ages.

It was expected that when Maurice Edgar Hamer OBE JP became the first citizen of the City of Stirling to be conferred the title of Honorary Freeman on 25 August 1972, that it would be the start of an Honour Roll of Distinguished Citizens.  Since this inaugural bestowal, the City has bestowed a total of nine Freeman of the City of Stirling, the most recent being Domenicantonio Cosimo Vallelonga JP on 4 July 2009.

Each Freeman of the City of Stirling has been an integral part of the City of Stirling's history and contributed to the City we enjoy today.        

Maurice Edgar Hamer OBE JP (Dec.)

Mr. Maurice Edgar Hamer was conferred on the 25th of August 1972 and became the first Freeman of the City. Mr. Hamer was born in 1901 and he first became a member of the Perth Road Board in 1937.

During his time with the board (23 years), Mr. Hamer spent three (1953-1956) as Chairman. He was also Chairman of the Metropolitan Region Planning Authority (1960-1972) and the Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage Board. Mr. Hamer was honoured with the title of ‘Officer of the most excellent order of the British Empire’ for services to his people.  



William Gibbney BEM JP (Dec.)  

Mr. William Gibbney was born on the 22nd of September 1894 in West Perth. He was an Instructor, Manager (42 years) and Councillor at the Royal Western Australian Institution of the Blind. He also served as a Secretary (36 years) and president of the Friendly’s Societies of WA and Treasurer and Secretary of Maylands Autumn Centre Management Committee. 

Mr. Gibbney started at the City of Stirling as a member of the Perth Road Board in 1937 and finished in 1950. He was a member of the Friendly’s Societies of WA, Saint John Ambulance Brigade, Rechabite Society of both West Perth and Maylands and Maylands Autumn Centre Management Committee.

He was awarded the St. John Medallion for dedicated service and Her Majesty; Queen Elizabeth II awarded Mr. Gibbney the British Empire Medal on the 14th June, 1975, in official recognition of the outstanding service given to the community. On the 5th of August 1978 Mr. Gibbney was conferred as an Honorary Freeman of the Municipal.

Neil Campbell Hawkins CBE JP (Dec.)

Born in 1908, Mr. Neil Campbell Hawkins was the third person to be conferred as a Freeman of the City on the 18th of November 1984. Mr. Hawkins started with the City of Stirling as a member of the Perth Road Board (1953-1961) then as a member of the Shire of Perth (1961-1971) and finished as a member of the City of Stirling (1971-1974). Mr. Hawkins has also been a member of the North Beach Surf Life Saving Club (from 1928, life member), Committee of Management, Trigg, North Beach, and Watermans Progress Association and Charles Riley Reserve Advisory Committee.

He has served the Community as a Councillor (19 years), Mayor (3 years) and Chairman of the Metropolitan Region Planning Authority (1972-1979). Mr. Hawkins is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Australian Planning Institute (from 1979) and was the Chairman of the Charles Riley Reserve Advisory Committee.  Not only has Mr. Hawkins been bestowed the title of Freeman for his services to the Community but also Commander of the British Empire.

Georgiana Alma Venville OAM JP (Dec.)

Mrs. Georgiana Alma Venville is the first women to be bestowed the title Honorary Freeman of the Municipal. She served as a Councillor on the Maylands ward within the City of Stirling in 1973 and was Mayor from 1975-76 and Deputy Mayor in 1977. She was also Secretary of the Maylands Ratepayers Association (1970-89) and Chairperson of the Metropolitan Refuse Disposal Committee. 

She also served as Chairperson of the North West Zone Committee (1977-83), Mindarie Regional Council and the Maylands Skill share (1980-89). Mrs. Venville was honoured for her services to the Community on the 25th of November 1989 when she became Honorary Freeman of the Municipal.


Ronald Nathan Stone AM (Dec.)

Mr Ronald Nathan Stone is the fifth Freeman of the Municipal and was conferred on the 23rd of November 1991. Born on the 27th of February 1921 Mr. Stone has been a member of the Perth Road Board (1959-1961), Shire of Perth (1961-1971), City of Stirling (1971-1978), Horological Guild of Australia and West Australian Consultative Retail Council.

Mr. Stone has served as Mayor (1974), Chairman of the Public Relations Committee, Public Relations Officer and a Co-founder of the Inglewood Autumn Centre. He has also been the President of the Mt.Ingle Kindergarten, Marjorie Mann Lawley Child Care Centre, Osborne Lions Club, Highgate Branch of the RSL,  State President of B-Nai B-Rith and State and Federal President of the Australian Jewellers Association.

Mr Stone was the co-founder of the Inglewood Library, the Inglewood Ratepayers and Progress Association, President of the sub-warden for the State War Memorial and Chairman of the Perth branch of the Sir Winston Churchill Memorial Appeal.
 

Richard Sebastian Guelfi (Dec.)

Born on the 15th of June 1915, Mr. Richard Guelfi has served as an Office Bearer of the Osborne Park Agricultural Society (24yrs), Councillor of the Osborne Ward (1962, 1971) and Deputy Mayor (1971).

He has been a member of the Osborne Park Football club, Osborne Park Progress Association (1934-1950’s), Osborne Park Agricultural Society (life membership), Osborne Park St John Ambulance and Osborne Park Bowling Club.
 
Mr. Guelfi has received a Gold medal for life long services to his people from the Italian City of Lucca. On the 19th of February 1994, Mr. Guelfi was conferred as an Honorary Freeman of the Municipal.  


George Joseph Strickland JP

Mr. George Strickland is the seventh Honorary Freeman of the Municipal and was conferred on the 23rd of February 2000. Born on the 3rd of October 1942 Mr. Strickland has served as a Councillor (1981-1990), Mayor (1986-88), Deputy Mayor (1984-86), Chairman of Finance at the City of Stirling and Chairman of the Charles Riley Reserve Advisory Committee (for 21 yrs).

Mr Strickland has also dedicated his time to being the Chairman of Star Swamp and Chairman of the Trigg Bushland Committee.  



Rodney Constantine PSM

Mr. Rodney Constantine was born on the 28th of March 1944 and has served as an Assistant Land and Properties Officer, Sub Accountant, Shire Treasurer, City Treasurer, Manager Corporate Planning and Finance and Executive Manager Finance and Corporate Services.

Mr. Constantine has received a Public Service Medal (2000) and on the 13th of October 2007 was bestowed the title ’Honorary Freeman of the Municipal’. He has also been a Deputy Chief Executive Officer and acting Chief Executive Officer of the Tamala Park Regional Council.      



Tony Vallelonga JP  

Mr. Tony Vallelonga is the ninth and currently last Honorary Freeman of the Municipal for the City of Stirling. Born on the 28th of November 1946, Mr. Vallelonga has been, if not still a member of the Mindarie Regional Council, Metropolitan Planning Council, Osborne Park/Balcatta Businessmen’s Association, Osborne Park Bowling Club, Osborne Park Ratepayers Association, Gwelup Progress Association and many other Committees and Community groups.

He has served as Mayor (1997-2005), Councillor (1988-2005), Chairman Appealathon Ball (1981-86), Chairman Main Street Commercial Site, Vice President WA Italian Club and Vice President Ethnic Community Council. 

Mr. Vallelonga has been awarded the Meritorious Service Award in 2002 WALGA Honours, a Certificate of Appreciation in 1998 LGA Honours, an Australian Friendship Award, the Family Values Award 1999 – Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and on the 4th July 2009 was bestowed the title 'Honorary Freeman of the Municipal.'