Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council will honour former mayor Frank Pangallo by naming the Heritage Library on Crawford Street, Queanbeyan, after him.

The Heritage Library is located in the former Queanbeyan Council Chambers.

“Mr Pangallo was Queanbeyan City Council’s longest-serving mayor and he made a lasting and significant contribution to the region,” said Mayor Kenrick Winchester.

 “After arriving in Australia from Italy more than 70 years ago, he and his family started their life in Griffith, NSW, where they overcame the language barrier and many prejudices faced by early post war migrants.

“Mr Pangallo moved to Queanbeyan and first stood for election to Queanbeyan Council in 1971. He served as councillor or mayor from 1971-1983 and 1989-2008. He was the popularly elected mayor at elections in 1991, 1995, 1999, and 2004. He retired from Council in 2008.”

Mr Pangallo was Queanbeyan City Council’s first elected mayor from a non-British background. 

In 1977, Mr Pangallo received an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for his service to local government and the community. He was also awarded Cavaliere (Knighthood) by the Italian government and was a member of NSW Ethnic Affairs Commission.