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

On the morning of 31 August, our Chifley community and, I would say, the country lost an incredible person in 102-year-old Uncle Wes Marne. Bigambul man Uncle Wes lived on the lands of the Dharug for over 50 years and was well known and much loved across Western Sydney, strongly advocating for bringing different worlds together and working tirelessly to share culture and build understanding.

He grew up in the 1920s in South-West Queensland, where his grandad taught him how to hunt and told him the Dreaming stories he later passed on to future generations. When he was nine, his family were forcibly removed from country and taken to the Deadbird Mission in New South Wales. Uncle Wes lived through World War II. He lived through the stolen generations. He served in the Royal Australian Navy during the Korean War. In the 1960s, he moved to Mount Druitt, and he called it home ever since.

He was one of the first Indigenous people in Sydney to tell his stories in schools. Many people in Mount Druitt know him for this. Parents remember him from school assemblies, and students, even those who are now adults, remember Uncle Wes from the time he came to speak at their school. He touched the hearts of school students, teachers and community organisations in 2770 and beyond. He was a founding member of the Mount Druitt and District Reconciliation Group. For the past 27 years, they've held a reconciliation walk every year, bringing our community together. One of my fond memories of those walks is seeing Uncle Wes conduct the smoking ceremony. I encourage everyone to take part.

In 2022, when Uncle Wes turned 100, I was proud to be present when the mayor of our city, the late Tony Bleasdale, presented him with the keys to the city. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his longstanding service to the Indigenous community of Western Sydney. He published a book of poems, Through Old Eyes, in 2022, and he toured across the country with his show, Fire Bucket. He was invited by Stan Grant to appear on a Q+A episode to talk about his book.

And what I've mentioned is just a drop of water in the bucket of what Uncle Wes has done in a life spanning 102 years. Our hearts go to his family and loved ones during this time. He was a great-great-great-grandfather, a storyteller, and someone who loved helping our community, building understanding and dedicating himself to ensuring Indigenous culture passed to the next generation, particularly in our local Mount Druitt community. There's so much to say about this person's life, but I'll finish by saying this: the world is better because of Uncle Wes Marne's commitment. I would like Hansard to note the footsteps of a great Australian. May he rest in peace. Thank you, Uncle Wes.

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