Bert Van Manen (Forde, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to pay tribute to a valued member of the Ormeau and Forde community, Barry McGrath, who, sadly, passed away peacefully at home on 9 October. Barry's passing marks the end of an era, leaving an irreplaceable void in the hearts of his family and the wider Ormeau community that he has been involved in for so long. 'Lion' McGrath, as he was more fondly known, was a lifelong member of Lions Clubs International and a founding pillar of the local Ormeau Lions Club, which he helped form with his wife, Mary.

A recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellowship award, Barry worked tirelessly to make Ormeau a better place to live, with an incredible devotion to community service. Through his over 30 years of service, Barry undertook so many positive projects in our community. This included the management of the only Driver Reviver site on the Gold Coast, which Barry built and ran with the help of Mary for many years, ensuring weary travellers were well rested, significantly improving the safety on our roads.

Barry's profound impact on our local community leaves a lasting legacy which will not soon be forgotten. My thoughts and condolences go out to Barry's wife, Mary; his family; the Ormeau Lions Club; and all those lives he touched. Barry, you will be deeply missed. May you rest in peace.

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