Mayor 1958 - 1961
Percy Graham Love, aged 66, died at Armidale on 10 January 1965. Born in Guyra on 5 March 1899, he moved to Armidale in 1905 when his family was forced off the land by bad seasons. He was elected to council in 1953 and became mayor in 1958. He was mayor for four successive years until he resigned from council in 1961. In January 1959 he was selected as the A.L.P. candidate for the 1959 state elections. He was the first vice-chairman of the New England Abattoir County Council in 1961; its inaugural year.
He was educated at Ben Venue and the High School at the Demonstration School. After he left school, he worked at the drapery store of W. Curtis Ltd. for twenty years. When the firm sold out, he transferred to Braunds where he worked in the furniture department until shortly before World War 11. Then he went into his own business as an estate agent and second hand dealer.
He joined the trade union movement at the age of 16 as a member of the Shop Assistant 's Union. At the time of his death, he was the Australian Labour Party president; a position he had held for eighteen years. He was also Armidale Electorate Council vice president and New England Electorate Council president. Apart from local government, he was much remembered for his involvement in sport. He was Armidale League secretary and Group 5 secretary for five years and one of the founder members of the N.S.W. Country Rugby League. As a member and trainer, he was interested in horse and greyhound racing. As a member of the Armidale and New England Jockey Club committee, he was an active chairman of the grounds committee.
He was survived by his widow Eileen May and daughters, Marie and Margaret. Burial took place in Armidale after a Requiem Mass at St. Marys’s Cathedral.