Newcastle's first female lord mayor and Freeman of the City recipient Joy Cummings has been immortalised in bronze with a statue on Hunter Street.
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The tribute, unveiled at a ceremony attended by the late council leader's family on Saturday morning, stands pride and place outside the old Civic train station.
Ms Cummings' daughters, Helen Cummings, Kathryn Connell and Margaret Badger, and daughter-in-law Julie Cummings, helped Newcastle lord mayor Nutuali Nelmes pull the cover off the statue in front of a crowd of about 100 people.
The statue, crafted by Margot Stephens, comes 45 years after Ms Cummings was elected lord mayor.
Cr Nelmes said the tribute would ensure Ms Cummings' trailblazing spirit was celebrated for years to come.
"It's a truly fitting honour that the late Joy Cummings is the first woman in Newcastle to be bestowed the honour of being immortalised in bronze," she said.
"Joy Cummings has many enduring and significant achievements that have transformed our city.
"She demonstrated great vision for Newcastle, was determined in her representation of her community and showed courage and a bold commitment on environmental issues.
"I think it's perfect this statue sits in the heart of the city and overlooks its continuing change and revitalisation, particularly looking back over to the Civic Theatre, which she helped save for live performances."
Ms Cummings is the first Newcastle public figure to be immortalised in bronze.
She was a woman of many firsts. Aside from being the city's first female lord mayor, she was the first to fly the Aboriginal flag over city hall and the first woman to be declared a Freeman of the City.
Ms Cummings' family said the statue captured Ms Cummings' smile and her determination with a line between her brows. They said her outward reaching hand was also symbolic of all that she was; an outward looking, proud and caring person.
Sculptor Margot Stephens said it was an "incredible privilege" to have completed the project and conveyed her admiration for Ms Cummings' leadership and inspirational determination.
Ms Cummings served as mayor between 1974 and 1984. She changed the operation of council to an inclusive and consensus model. She was passionate about the arts and heritage and was a strong supporter of the Aboriginal community.
Many of Newcastle's civic attractions like Blackbutt Reserve, City Hall, Civic Theatre, Newcastle Museum, Fort Scratchley and the harbour foreshore were developed and preserved for generations of Novocastrians because of her visionary efforts.
Ms Cummings died aged 79 in July, 2003