Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on indulgence: I wish to express condolences on the loss of lives of Robert Wilson and Kevin Marshall, who were both killed in a head-on car collision on Tuesday, 15 September. Kevin Marshall, from Orange, died in hospital that night after the accident. Robert Wilson was killed following his attendance at the inaugural meeting of the Regional Development Australia Central West Committee in Orange, and I think, therefore, it appropriate for us to acknowledge his passing.

Robert Wilson was appointed to the RDA Central West committee by the federal and New South Wales governments on 6 August 2009. He was a longstanding and highly regarded leader in the community of Parkes, serving the regional community of Parkes with distinction for over 40 years, including 23 years as Mayor of Parkes. He played an integral role in developing Parkes as a transport hub and national freight distribution centre. This has been critical to the economic and employment sustainability of the Parkes region.

In 1997 he was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his service to local government and the community of Parkes. In recognition of his significant contribution to his local community, Mr Wilson was named Parkes Shire Citizen of the Year in 2008. He received the AR Bluett Memorial Award in 1987 and a National Award for Innovation in Local Government in 1991 and 1996. Robert Wilson was a fine role model who served his community with dedication and distinction. He will be sorely missed by this community. I extend the deepest sympathies of the House to Mrs Wilson, Trudy and Ben, and to the family of Kevin Marshall.

John Cobb (Calare, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on indulgence: Robert Wilson was a legend in local government and a legend, with his wife Vicki, all around the Central West, particularly in the Parkes region. It is hard to remember a time when he was not involved in everything of note that happened in the region. Vicki was always with him, and she and Trudy and Ben are going to have a lot of support from all the people of the region in the time ahead; and obviously they will need that. As someone who knew Robert over many years—I do not know how long; he was always around—both as an agripolitician and as a member of parliament, I probably saw him a little differently to the locals. They saw him as somebody who fought, each and every day, for whatever it was that the people of the Parkes shire and the Central West needed or desired.

I guess, because of my position, I saw him more as somebody who was truly a leader. Every leader, I think, who makes a mark needs a vision, and Robert Wilson certainly had that vision way beyond just the local issues. He was, as the Leader of the House said, very much focused—and from my position totally focused—on Parkes and the Central West becoming the distribution centre not just for the Central West but for eastern Australia and even further afield than that. He did more than any other person to make that, what is fast becoming, a reality.

Robert was the Mayor of Parkes for about 23 years. Prior to being the Mayor of Parkes he was the mayor of the municipality of Peak Hill. He had, I think, 43 years in local government—and most of those as the president or the mayor of whichever municipality or shire he was in. Robert was a senior person who retired 14 months ago. I guess the quality of the man and the quality of Vicki, his wife, was such that they were forever besieged by people wanting them to do jobs for them. He had the respect and the love of everybody in the area. It is hard to imagine him not being around. I guess Vicki and Trudy and Ben at least know that their husband and father was one of the most respected people that I have ever known in the Central West.

Obviously we think also of Kevin Marshall’s family. Kevin hailed from Orange these days, and not so many years ago lost a grandson in Dubbo who was killed on a bike. It was a very tragic thing. So the Marshall family have a lot to grieve over and our thoughts are with them as well. It has been a tragic time in the Central West for car accidents—there have been about five. I do not quite know how many people have been killed on the roads over the last week but I guess Tuesday brought the reality of it home to all of us.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have no doubt that all members would expect me, on behalf of the House, to associate the House with the comments made by the minister and the member for Calare. We extend our deepest sympathy to the families and friends of the deceased.