Andrew Charlton (Parramatta, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'd like to take this opportunity to share a few words about a former Parramatta constituent and local Labor champion, Jack Sumner, who passed away on 9 October at the age of 82. Jack grew up in Manchester in the UK. In 1968, at the age of 27, he married his wife, Sue, and together they led a life of adventure, living between the UK and India and eventually settling in Australia.

Throughout his career, Jack thrived in the business world. He worked for 25 years at Coates Bros and Co, a global manufacturer of printer ink and supplies, where he managed several international branches, including here in Australia. Then in 1997 Jack joined the Labor Party. He served as president of the North Rocks branch in Parramatta and took on the role of executive officer for the Mick Young Scholarship Trust. For four years he managed the administration, fundraising and distribution of scholarships to TAFEs and universities.

Today Jack is remembered as a local leader, a devout campaigner, a deep thinker on Labor principles and justice, a loving husband and father, and a great friend. Our thoughts today are with his family—his wife, Sue, their sons Daniel and Barnaby, and grandchildren Will and Riley. May he rest in peace.

See this speech in context