Ann Corcoran (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to pay tribute to Eileen Goss. Eileen was born Eileen Ryan on 5 March 1919 in East Brunswick. She died on 4 March 2006, just short of her 87th birthday. She was a long-time member of the Mentone branch of the ALP, joining early in the 1970s. She attended meetings until just a few years ago. Ellie, as she was often known, held branch meetings in her lounge room in Mentone for many years before the meetings moved to other premises. Ellie held the positions of treasurer and secretary at various stages. Ellie’s daughter Sue Waltho and son-in-law Peter are also proud members of Mentone ALP and tell many stories of Ellie embarrassing them at local fundraisers. For her funeral Sue wrote a poem for her mother:

I speak your name with love and pride

I smile through the tears that I cannot hide

A special person you have been

The greatest Mum the world has seen.

A special smile, a special face

And in my heart a special place

The gates of heaven have opened wide

A lovely lady has stepped inside.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! It being 8 pm, the debate is interrupted.