Central Coast top 100 Most Influential: #15 Laurie Maher
He has spent a lifetime fighting for a better deal for some of the Central Coast’s most vulnerable people and bringing one of society’s most difficult problems to public attention.
Central Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Central Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Central Coast top 100 Most Influential people as voted by you #80 to 100
- #20: The mechanic
- #19: The artist
THE Central Coast’s tireless crusader against homelessness and domestic violence has been named at number 15 in the Central Coast’s Most Influential list.
Laurie Maher, 80, has devoted most of his life to raising the issue of homelessness to public awareness and to taking practical steps to help people.
#16: The Animal welfare advocate
He retired recently as Coast Shelter chief executive officer after 25 years in the role, but remains as passionate as ever about the problem of homelessness on the Central Coast and elsewhere.
When he announced his retirment earlier this year his colleagues had high praise for him.
Coast Shelter board president Gavin Shepherd said Mr Maher had “earned the deep respect of all members of the welfare community”.
“Laurie has been a pioneer of best practice programs across Coast Shelter and he leaves a lasting legacy for those homeless and at risk of homelessness,” Mr Shepherd said.
“His many contributions to Coast Shelter’s success are immeasurable.”
As well as his work in this sector, Laurie Maher also served four terms at Mayor of the former Gosford Council.
He was elected to council first in 2004 and then went on to be mayor from 2007 until 2012.
He served on councils’ water authority and was a member of the Central Coast Regional Organisation of Councils which worked to achieve positive outcomes for the entire Central Coast. He was a member of numerous council committees.
Mr Maher was a director of Central Coast Leagues Club for more than 24 years, its treasurer for six and deputy chairman for four years.
Mr Maher did much to advance the cause of sport on the Central Coast and in NSW.
He served as president and vice president of the NSW Country Rugby Union and was made a life member and director of NSW Rugby Union.
On the local scene he was founding president and life member of Kariong Rugby Union Club and a life member of Central Coast Rugby Union.
Laurie Maher was co-founder of Kariong Sport and Recreation Club.
Among his other achievements are directorship of the NRMA for five years, a NSW Community Service Award and Darkinjung Medal for non-Indigenous services to the Aboriginal Community in 2009.
In 2010 Maher was awarded with Order of Australia Award for his service to the community of Gosford through social welfare and local government organisations