Leone Healy

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Leone Healy

Born in 1937 Leone was the elder child of Bill and Kath Radburn from Neville. After the family home was burnt down Bill Radburn worked at 'Werribee', a property in the district. Leone grew up in a weatherboard cottage with a pretty garden created by Kath. In her memoir, A country childhood Leone recalled her mother sewed the family’s clothes and Christmas presents on a singer sewing machine and junket was a favourite dessert.

After correspondence lessons and Cowra High School Leone moved to Sydney where she became a nurse at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. In 1959 she married veterinary surgeon Brian Healy. The young couple moved to Cootamundra then to Wagga Wagga and had four children within 3 years including twin girls. The realisation that her fourth child, her son David was deaf had a great impact as described in her first book, Up! A mother’s journey to freedom with her deaf son.

The family moved to Orange and she campaigned tirelessly for Opportunity Deaf classes which enabled David to complete his education with his siblings in mainstream schools.

Leone was the first woman elected to Orange City Council in 1971, along with Margaret Stevenson. Leone campaigned for local services and parks, one of which Leone Healy Park bears her name. By the 1970s with all her children in school she was able to attend Charles Sturt University as a mature age student.

Leone’s dedication, zest, and organisational skills contributed greatly to the international Year of Disabled Persons in 1981. Later in her career she worked in the Premier’s Department and in the Social Policy Directorate.

In retirement Leone wrote 2 books, travelled widely and settled into Pennant Hills. Brian died in 2004.

Leone Healy died on Friday 19 March 2010. Her funeral was held in the Neville Presbyterian Church on Thursday 25 March at 2.30pm.

  • 'Death of Local Councillor' Editorial Central Western Daily 20 March 2010
  • ‘Leone the mouse that roared’, Central Western Daily 27 March 2010.
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