Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale dies suddenly on flight back from Chinese study tour

The mayor of one of Sydney's biggest councils has died on a flight home from China.

Tony Bleasdale, 77, was due home this morning after a tour of the Blacktown City Council's sister cities in South Korea and China when he suddenly died.

Mr Bleasdale had been a councillor in Blacktown since 1996 before being elected mayor in 2019.

He was awarded a medal of the Order of Australia in 2010 for his extensive charity work and service to Blacktown municipality.

With an estimated 426,000 people, Blacktown is the largest local government area in Sydney.

A hardened member of the Labor Party, Mr Bleasdale joined other local mayors who supported NSW Premier Chris Minns' efforts to increase housing supply.

The MP for Greenway and a former co-councillor of Mr Bleasdale, Michelle Rowland, said the mayor 'fought passionately for the people of Blacktown'.

'His sense of community and commitment to countless charitable organisations over decades helped shaped Blacktown City into the vibrant place it is today,' Ms Rowland wrote on Facebook.

'Tony truly loved Blacktown – and I know there are many people today who will be reeling from this loss.'

The state's Deputy Premier and member for Londonderry, Prue Car, also paid tribute to the mayor, sharing her shock over the sudden death of a 'friend and mentor'.

'Tony was well loved within the Blacktown community, fiercely advocating local residents for over 30 years,' Ms Car wrote.

'He was also a great friend and mentor to me, as we worked together in our shared communities for many years. 

'My thoughts and love are with Mayoress Nina Bleasdale and all of their family and loved ones.'

More to come.