FORMER premier Neville Wran (pictured), who died on Sunday, aged 87, left an indelible stamp on St George and Sutherland Shire.
The duplication of Tom Uglys Bridge and construction of a second rail track between Gymea and Caringbah were part of his legacy.
He also gave the go-ahead for a cardiac surgery unit at St George Hospital, despite opposition from powerful academic and medical interests in the eastern suburbs.
The year after his government came to power in 1976, Mr Wran scrapped Liberal plans for a coal loader as part of Port Botany's development.
Environmentalist Bernie Clarke said coal dust would have had "disastrous" effects on the health of residents and would also have greatly affected marine life.
"Everyone who lives around Botany Bay owes a debt of gratitude to Neville Wran," he said.
Mr Clarke said that in the 1970s, he and other residents founded the Botany Bay Planning and Protection Council because of concerns about increasing pollution and further planned development.
"We organised several public meetings at town halls before the 1976 state election," he said. "Neville Wran, who was opposition leader, came to the Botany meeting and asked if he could speak," Mr Clarke said.
"I told him he could, but only if he promised to order a commission of inquiry, with public participation, into development around Botany Bay.
"He made the pledge and that led to the Simblist Inquiry, the coal loader being scrapped and greater consideration of environmental impacts in other development."
HELPED TO VICTORY
St George and Sutherland Shire played a big role in Neville Wran’s electoral success.
The seat of Hurstville helped Labor come to power with a one-seat majority in 1976.
Former St George and Canterbury league star Kevin Ryan defeated sitting Liberal Tom Mead, the Leader’s founding editor, in a ‘‘nail biter’’.
Two years later, the Wran government had a big win in the Earlwood by-election, which followed the retirement of former Liberal premier Sir Eric Willis.
The unsuccessful Liberal candidate was Alan Jones, who went on to become a radio broadcaster.
Earlwood was an omen for the ‘‘Wranslide’’, which occurred in the election later that year, in which Labor won every seat in St George and the shire.
Former premier cool in crisis
Caringbah South resident Brian Dale, who was Mr Wran’s long-time press secretary, recalled two ‘‘crisis’’ visits to Sutherland Shire and St George.
‘‘One saved the Sharks rugby league club from folding when Neville promised the government would guarantee the club’s debts,’’ he said.
‘‘The other was when [radio broadcaster] John Laws made some comments on air, which led to a run on St George Building Society [now St George Bank].
‘‘We went out to the head office of the building society at Hurstville and found lots of people withdrawing their money.
‘‘Neville had a megaphone telling them there was no need for concern.
‘‘When I saw people were being given cheques, I said to him, ‘If this place goes down, the cheques will be worthless’.
‘‘He replied, ‘I don’t think we will tell them that, son.’’’
What are your memories of former premier Neville Wran?