Today Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Mr Vale Lewis Herman.

Lew was Mr Ashfield and along with Cecile formed an invaluable partnership to work for the community, particularly the less well off.

Lew Herman was a proud advocate for Ashfield and was its longest serving Mayor.

Lew lived his whole life in the area.

After leaving school at 15, Lew worked in the family business, eventually taking over from his father. It was as a cap maker that Lew became involved in the Hatters Union, though which he join the ALP and subsequently embarked on his 35 years as an Ashfield Councillor, beginning in 1971. Lew was Mayor from 1976-1991.

Lew was a compassionate community leader and took up many key fights, including against the expansion of Kingsford Smith Airport in the 1980s.

Mayor Herman’s legacy includes the Ashfield Town Hall which was built at zero cost to the rate payers.

Also a great advocate of multiculturalism, Lew was actively involved in a number of ethnic associations, also ensuring that the Ethnic Community Council held its annual meeting at the Ashfield Town Hall every year, from 1974 to 2003.

Lew worked tirelessly for his local community and took great pride in his association with many local organisations.

I like many others in the Inner West regarded him as a friend and advisor of great integrity and wisdom.

Our thoughts are with his wife Cecile, son David and daughter Sharon and his grandchildren

He will be sadly missed.