The Bathurst community was dealt a further blow this week with the death of Ann Ashwood.
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In 1989 Mrs Ashwood became the first woman to serve as mayor of Bathurst.
She passed away at Three Trees Lodge, Lithgow, on Wednesday night after a long illness at the age of 72.
Born in Armidale in 1935, Mrs Ashwood moved to Bathurst before she was four- years-old, attending Bathurst and Wattle Flat Public Schools and then Bathurst High where she was both dux and school captain.
After attending university Mrs Ashwood spent the next 10 years teaching throughout the Western region.
She and her husband Dick returned to Bathurst in 1962. They spent some time in Dubbo before coming home for good in 1967.
Mrs Ashwood taught at her old school, Bathurst High, until 1976 when she transferred to Kelso High School.
She devoted much of her time to playing, coaching and the administration of sport, especially hockey and swimming.
Her political career began when she was elected to council as a member of the Australian Labor Party team.
She served several terms on Bathurst City Council, and in 1989 was elected to the top job, a position she held until 1992.
