Kevin Greene (politician)

Kevin Patrick Greene (born 18 October 1958), is a former Australian politician, elected as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1999 to 2011, and as a Councillor (2017–2022) and Mayor (2017–2021) of Georges River Council.

Early life and background
Greene grew up in the St George region of southern Sydney, attending St Declan's Catholic Primary School in Penshurst, where his father was president of the parents and friends organisation. After graduating from year 12 in 1976, Greene attended the University of New South Wales for a Bachelor of Commerce degree which he did not complete, preferring instead to coach boys football and cricket. In 1977 at the age of 19 Greene became president of the Illawarra Catholic cricket club and secretary of the football club, and was later a director of the Illawarra Catholic Club Ltd.

Greene married in 1987 to Frances, who had two daughters and one son from a previous marriage, and the marriage would produce a further three children: two daughters and one son.

Greene has a Diploma of Education and a Bachelor of Education and was a teacher before running for parliament, with his last position being as the principal of St Brendan's Catholic Primary School in Annandale, the smallest school in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney.

NSW Parliament
Greene represented Georges River from 1999 until its abolition in 2007, when he was elected as the member for Oatley. Greene lost his seat in the 2011 New South Wales state election.

Greene was the New South Wales Minister for Gaming and Racing, Minister for Sport and Recreation, and Minister for Major Events.

Local government
In June 2017 it was Greene announced he was standing as a Labor candidate for the Peakhurst Ward of the newly created Georges River Council. At the subsequent local government elections on 9 September 2017, he was elected in the first position as a Councillor, with the Labor ticket taking 42% of the first preference vote (1.69 quotas), enough to elect the second person on his ticket.

At the first meeting of the elected council on 25 September 2017, Greene was elected unopposed as the inaugural mayor of Georges River Council, and was re-elected in September 2021 to the December 2021 election. At the 2021 local government elections, Greene stood again for Peakhurst Ward and was re-elected on the first count. Although re-elected to council, Greene retired from the position of mayor when his term expired on 30 December 2021, to be succeeded by Nick Katris. In September 2022, Greene announced his retirement as a Peakhurst Ward councillor, with his resignation to take effect from 31 October 2022. Greene was thanked and praised by Georges River Council shortly after his retirement, for his many years of dedicated public service.

Post-political career
In June 2022, Greene was appointed as a director representing the metropolitan members on the board of the New South Wales Rugby League. Greene is also Chair of the NSWRL Referees Association. Greene is also a board member and deputy chair of Cricket NSW.

In the 2023 King's Birthday Honours, Greene was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for "significant service to the Parliament of New South Wales, to local government, and to the community." He was also a recipient of the Australian Sports Medal in 2000.