Romola Hollywood

Executive Summary: Romola Hollywood is a long‑time Blue Mountains resident (35 years in Wentworth Falls) and an experienced community leader who has also been active in the local arts scene

. A lifelong community advocate, she was first elected to Blue Mountains City Council in 2012 (re‑elected in 2016, 2021, 2024) and has served as Deputy Mayor since 2021

. Professionally she holds a B.A. (Hons) and M.Phil and has worked as a senior manager in community services

. Romola is involved on numerous boards and committees: she is a Blue Mountains council delegate (and former Vice‑President) of the NSW Public Libraries Association

, member of the Rural Fire Service and NPWS advisory councils, and has championed local environmental and cultural causes

. In the arts, she helped lead the campaign to restore the Wentworth Falls School of Arts and was stage manager for its 1997 reopening

. She has contributed to oral-history projects and supports local music and theatre projects. 

Biography: Romola Hollywood is best known as a Blue Mountains City Councillor (Ward 2) and current Deputy Mayor

. She was first elected in 2012 and has been re‑elected in subsequent terms, becoming Deputy Mayor in 2021

. A Wentworth Falls resident for over 35 years

, she is highly active in community and cultural affairs. Before her council career, she worked in community service policy and training (holding a Certificate IV in Workplace Training)

 and served on many local boards and committees, especially in the arts. In the 1990s she was instrumental in revitalizing the Wentworth Falls School of Arts: she sat on its committee, helped campaign for its refurbishment, and served as the stage manager for its grand reopening in 1997

. More recently she contributed to oral‑history exhibitions celebrating local heritage

. Outside the arts, Romola is known for her advocacy on environment and emergency services (she is a Rural Fire Service member) and was appointed Vice-President (later President) of the NSW Public Libraries Association

. In short, she combines civic leadership with a passion for community arts.

Tarot Card Suggestion: Queen of Pentacles

Woman In Forest Pictures | Download Free Images on Unsplash

Romola’s persona – a nurturing community leader rooted in nature – aligns closely with the Queen of Pentacles. This card symbolizes an earthy, maternal figure who fosters abundance and cares for her community, which matches Romola’s role in nurturing local culture, environment and public life

. The Queen of Pentacles is often depicted in a forest or garden setting with symbols of fertility and material comfort; likewise, Romola champions environmental protection and community wellbeing

. (As Deputy Mayor and lifelong local resident she tends to the “garden” of the Blue Mountains.) In her artistic activity – organizing theatre productions and supporting the arts – Romola shows the Queen’s blend of practical resourcefulness and creative warmth. The green, woodland imagery of the Queen of Pentacles (oak leaves, forest glades) reflects Romola’s love of the World Heritage environment, while the pentacle itself (a gold coin) speaks to her grounding in the practical needs of the community.

A person holding a bass guitar in their hand photo – Free Forest Image on Unsplash

A fitting bespoke depiction might show Romola among gumtrees or ferns of the Mountains, cradling a large pentacle (symbol of Earth) while casually holding her bass guitar’s neck (echoing her music side). Golden light and natural greens would dominate the palette, underscoring growth and stability. Key motifs: ferns/wildflowers around her feet, perhaps an open book (library/public service), and the carved Pelargonium or Waratah (native flowering plant) motif as crown – blending local nature with pentacles. The colour scheme would be warm earth‑tones and soft sunlight filtering through trees. This image would tie together her musician’s instrument, her environmental advocacy (forest backdrop), and her nurturing role (a queen on the earth throne).

Alternate Card – The Empress: Romola could also be seen as an Empress figure. The Empress (Major Arcana) stands for creativity, motherhood and connection to nature – echoing Romola’s maternal care for her community and her focus on growth and regeneration. Both cards share earth/nature themes, but the Empress adds the idea of fertility and broad creative abundance. The Empress’s lush garden and gentle bearing mirror Romola’s steady leadership and support of the arts. (If Queen of Pentacles is the practical nurture archetype, the Empress is the archetypal “Mother of Nature.”)

Sources Found: The Blue Mountains City Council and LGNSW sites confirm Romola’s public office (dates of election and roles)

. A local arts event listing (Modern Art Projects Blue Mountains) documents her early involvement in performing arts at the Wentworth Falls School of Arts

. Personal bio details (residence, education, community roles) come from Romola’s official profiles

Source URL Date Reliability

Cr Romola Hollywood – LGNSW Board https://lgnsw.org.au/About-LGNSW/Board/Romola-Hollywood.aspx 2024 (accessed) Primary (official)

About Romola Hollywood (personal site) https://www.romolahollywood.com/about-romola 2024 (accessed) Primary (official)

MAPBM – Living Stories of Wentworth Falls School of Arts https://events.humanitix.com/wfsoa-stories 2025-09-14 event Primary (arts org)

LGNSW – Libraries Association info (as above) (details on library roles)

Romola Hollywood — Queen of Pentacles (Tarot Portrait)

Romola Hollywood is a long-time resident of Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains, where she has lived for more than 35 years. She is a community leader, cultural advocate, and civic representative, serving as a Blue Mountains City Councillor (Ward 2) since 2012 and as Deputy Mayor since 2021, with re-elections in 2016, 2021 and 2024. With an academic background including a BA (Hons) and M.Phil, she has also worked professionally in community services, training, and policy development, with a career grounded in public service and community capacity-building.

Romola’s contribution to the cultural life of the Blue Mountains is closely tied to community infrastructure, heritage, and participation. In the 1990s she played an important role in the campaign to restore the Wentworth Falls School of Arts, serving on its committee and supporting its refurbishment and revival as a vital local venue. She contributed to the reopening in 1997, including involvement in coordinating community-facing events and supporting the functioning of the space as a hub for performance, meetings, and creative activity. Her ongoing engagement with arts and culture has continued through support for local theatre, heritage projects, and oral-history initiatives that preserve and amplify community stories.

Beyond the arts, Romola has held significant roles in regional governance and advisory work. She has been involved with the NSW Public Libraries Association, including leadership responsibilities, reflecting her commitment to access to knowledge, learning, and inclusive community spaces. Her participation in Rural Fire Service and National Parks advisory structures further reflects a strong connection to environmental stewardship and community resilience in a region shaped by both natural beauty and environmental risk. Across these roles, she has consistently worked at the intersection of culture, environment, and community wellbeing.

In the context of this Tarot deck, Romola aligns most strongly with the Queen of Pentacles. This archetype represents grounded care, practical wisdom, and nurturing leadership rooted in place. The Queen of Pentacles is a custodian of community wellbeing and environmental harmony, reflecting Romola’s long-standing dedication to both civic responsibility and cultural sustainability in the Blue Mountains. Her work embodies stability, service, and the quiet cultivation of strong community foundations.

A secondary resonance can be found in The Empress, symbolising creativity, abundance, and the flourishing of community life. This aspect reflects her support for cultural expression, heritage preservation, and the nurturing of spaces where community stories can grow and be shared. The Empress adds a layer of generative creativity to her grounded civic presence.

Visually, Romola’s card might place her within the layered landscapes of Wentworth Falls—surrounded by native forest, filtered light, and sandstone textures. Symbolic elements such as a book (knowledge and libraries), subtle civic motifs, and native flora like waratah or eucalyptus blossoms would reinforce her connection to place, culture, and stewardship. The palette would lean toward earth tones, deep greens, and warm gold, evoking both stability and living, evolving community life.

Romola Hollywood — Queen of Pentacles (Tarot Portrait)

Romola Hollywood is a long-time resident of Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains, where she has lived for more than 35 years. She is a community leader, arts advocate, and civic representative, serving as a Blue Mountains City Councillor (Ward 2) since 2012 and as Deputy Mayor since 2021, with re-elections in 2016, 2021 and 2024. With an academic background including a BA (Hons) and M.Phil, her professional work spans community services, training, and policy roles grounded in public service and sustained local engagement.

In the arts and cultural life of the region, Romola has played a significant role through governance and advocacy. In the 1990s she contributed to the campaign to restore the Wentworth Falls School of Arts, serving on its committee and supporting its refurbishment and reopening in 1997, where she also assisted with stage management for the reopening events. She continues to support local theatre, heritage initiatives, and oral-history projects that preserve community memory. Her broader service includes involvement with the NSW Public Libraries Association, as well as participation in Rural Fire Service and National Parks advisory committees, reflecting a consistent commitment to cultural and civic life.

Her public life reflects a strong focus on environmental stewardship, access to knowledge, and community wellbeing. As a councillor and Deputy Mayor, she advocates for sustainable development and the protection of the Blue Mountains World Heritage environment. Her leadership is shaped by long-term residence and an intimate understanding of local communities, ensuring that cultural vitality and environmental responsibility remain central to civic decision-making.

Within this Tarot project, Romola aligns most strongly with the Queen of Pentacles, an archetype of grounded care, practical nurturing, and community stewardship. This card reflects earth energy, stability, and the integration of home, place, and responsibility—qualities evident in her long-standing civic service. Her work across local government, cultural advocacy, and environmental committees mirrors the Queen’s role as custodian of people and place. A secondary resonance can be found in The Empress, highlighting her support for creativity and community cultural expression.

A suggested visual interpretation places her within the Blue Mountains landscape among native ferns and filtered forest light, rendered in earth tones and warm gold. Symbolic elements such as a book representing knowledge and libraries, subtle council motifs, and native flora like waratah or eucalyptus blossoms would reflect her civic, cultural, and environmental presence, grounding the card in both place and purpose.