Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Hansard source

There comes a time when you have to say goodbye to friends and you lose them, and some of these times are harder than others. Ivy Roberson was one of those people. I remember getting a text message saying that she had passed and slapping the table when I heard that news, because we had had no concept or inkling that she was suffering from cancer as much as she was, because she was stoic and kept those things to herself. Today in the House, I want to commend and thank her for her dedication to our community. She was well known and respected in Chifley. She had 25 years of dedication in areas such as the Community Work Field Office and as an officer with juvenile justice in New South Wales, working with at-risk youth. She volunteered with Mount Druitt police and as a consumer representative at Westmead Hospital. She was a founding member and president of the Whalan Community Action Group, which organised so much to help people, particularly older people, in our community and lobbied so hard to get a courthouse in Mount Druitt. She was the lead coordinator of the Whalan May fair and a volunteer in the Mount Druitt community solutions program. For her volunteer work in the Whalan community, she was named the 2009 Blacktown City Citizen of the Year. I knew her for many years, and I know she will be sorely missed. I think her daughter Lianne Sheriden described her mum perfectly when she said, 'She was strong-willed, opinionated and persistent,' and described her as having great enthusiasm for her volunteer work. She leaves behind five children, nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, and her legacy will not be forgotten. Vale Ivy.

I also want to speak on Glendenning local Brett McMillan, who, sadly, passed away on 4 June. He was a passionate member of the Plumpton-Glendenning Cricket Club for over 20 years, having joined when his daughter started playing for them, which partly began his love of cricket. He went on to become secretary and a life member for 15 years, and he was a member of the Blacktown City and District Cricket Association. He was also an umpire for the New South Wales Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association for 30 years, and oversaw nearly 300 matches. His contribution will also be sorely missed. He's survived by his wife, Carol; his daughter, Wendy; his son, Nathan; and his father, Ron. My condolences go to his entire family. I pay my respects to Brett McMillan.

In the remaining time, I want to acknowledge NAIDOC Week, which will begin on 4 July. Reconciliation has many steps to take. It is a long journey, and the NAIDOC theme of 'healing country' speaks to the need for substantive reform as a result of outstanding injustices. With the COVID outbreak in New South Wales, it's uncertain whether all NAIDOC Week events will be able to proceed, but it does not diminish the importance of this week and the opportunity for our community to celebrate the rich history and diverse cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our area.

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