Former Lismore Mayor and Lismore City Councillor Ros Irwin has passed away at the age of 82.

Tributes are pouring in from friends over social media platforms.

Former Mayor Jenny Dowell, who is also battling cancer, said, "As the shocking news spreads in our community, I share the grief many feel at the untimely death of former Mayor Ros Irwin. Ros was a fellow councillor with me in my first term, and we became good friends in those years and since.

"We met at a medical appointment one month ago, where we shared our diagnoses and continued to support each other in recent weeks. Her death has rocked me to my core, but the loss and grief Bill, her partner, and family are experiencing are immeasurable. I think of him and remember a strong woman of principle and passion."

Nimbin's Diana Roberts ran on an independent ticket with Ros in 1991 with Lyn Carson. "Today, Nimbin lost a great ally and I lost a very dear friend and comrade, Ros Irwin, the first female mayor of Lismore Council.

"I cannot do her justice in a Facebook post, but I wanted to be the person to share the sad news with you. We were elected to council together in 1991 and became very close friends. My grief is great, but nothing like the grief and loss that will be felt by Bill and her close-knit family. She will be very much missed, but her fighting spirit will live on."

Ros spent nearly 18 years on Lismore City Council as a councillor, from 1992 to 2008, as well as being deputy mayor for two years, then Mayor between 1997 and 1999.

She was also on Rous County Council as the chair for two years and a member of the Local Government Association Board for five years.

“It wasn’t always easy being a councillor – people hate you or love you," Ros said.

“If you can please 60% of the people, you are doing well.

“Being on council is politics - and being a women on council does bring discrimination.

“I always treated everyone with respect until they showed me that I shouldn’t.” 

When Ros decided to leave Lismore City Council, she said she knew it was time.

“Every meeting seemed the same,” she said. “If you are smart, you know when it’s time to go.

“I walked away and I only go back to meetings now if they involve koalas.

“Now I just want to help people and koalas. 

Ros Irwin became a fierce supporter of Friends of the Koala.

“I always said when I was on Council I wanted to get a koala plan on management in place,” Ros told the Lismore App in her Sunday profile chat in 2019.

“Bob Gates was the mayor then, and it didn’t go anywhere. I knew back then I wanted to work with Friends of the Koala. 

“I was very busy at that time. 

“I was working full time and doing my PhD in political science, conducting research into women leaders in government in five countries. 

“I took six months off work to finish my research, and then I met Bill and didn’t finish it as quickly as I wanted.

“My studies were done at night, and I had trouble sleeping then. I’d be awake at 2am and do my study then.”

Ros also worked at Southern Cross University as a lecturer in social sciences for 15 years, before leaving Council to work in Bill’s coffee business, Caddies Coffee. 

After they sold the business, the two of them took on their koala conservation work full-time.

It doesn't matter what your political view is; Ros Irwin gave a great deal of her life to the Lismore community. She wanted to effect change, and worked steadfastly to achieve those changes.

Vale Ros Irwin.