Mary Day was an outspoken and controversial Councillor on North Sydney Council, when she ran against the Mayor and MLA, Ted Mack in 1988. The antagonism between them was well known and had been the subject of comment for some years.

Mary Day had, seven years earlier, won what the Sydney Morning Herald called "a famous victory", when, after twelve years of court cases (including one to the High Court of Australia) she won her case against a home unit development which had adversely affected her harbour view. The developer was compelled to demolish one story of the building in order to restore the view. Not surprisingly, Mary Day's manifesto stressed her capacity to represent the lower north shore electors and her lack of political ambition and conflict of interest.

Mary Day died at Wollongong Hospital on Tuesday 16 November 2010. Her funeral service was held at Sussex Inlet Community Church on Tuesday 23 November 2010. She is survived by her husband, John Day.

Sources used to compile this entry: Decker, Dianne, Women in Australian Parliament and Local Government: An updated history 1975-1992, Australian Local Government Women's Association, Canberra, 1992; NSW election leaflets 1988. Mitchell Library collection.