Andrew Nikolic (Bass, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On 27 June this year, the people of Flinders Island, in my electorate of Bass, helped local resident Lady Mary MacTier celebrate her 100th birthday. Getting to 100 years is a noteworthy achievement, but the story of Lady MacTier and her husband, the late Sir Stuart MacTier, is no less remarkable. In 1980, the couple made the momentous decision to sell up in Scotland and to move to Australia to be closer to their three children. Lady MacTier said they were not prepared to go to any of Australia's 'hot spots,' preferring the sort of temperate climate and occasional brave day that they would find in Scotland. The family found a home on Flinders Island, in the middle of Bass Strait—a community of about 1,000 people who rely largely on the land and sea for their livelihoods. It is a close, self-reliant community, where the scenery is rugged and sometimes wild, but always beautiful. Life in a remote island community also comes with challenges. Just about everything is shipped or flown in and farm produce has to be shipped to mainland markets. There are few of the social amenities that we take for granted.

The MacTier family embraced island life and Flinders Island has embraced them. They are successful farmers and Lady MacTier brought her love of Scottish country dancing to the island. She was an active dancer until quite recently. I visited Flinders Island recently and spoke with Lady MacTier's son Hugh. I put on record my congratulations to Lady MacTier on her 100th birthday and wish her, the MacTier family and their island home all the very best.