Cathy McGowan (Indi, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I rise to acknowledge the passing of what we in country Australia call a very good man: Don Chambers OAM—active in politics; Vice President of the Indi branch of the National Party; represented that party in the Indi election in 2001; councillor for the Indigo Shire; local identity; lover of life; environmentalist; believer in community; a master sportsman; and much-loved member of the Rutherglen and North East communities.

Don was a friend. His family and my family were from the same town, and we had many discussions about the meaning of life, and especially when his wife, Margaret, died six years ago. In the way of country politics, we had a lot to do with each other.

Like many people in rural communities, he had a strong commitment to the environment, to our towns and sustainability. In this belief he was informed by local Aboriginal elders and was a tenacious supporter of Aboriginal recognition. I recall gathering beside the lake at Benalla, standing next to Don, and how proud he was that he had been able to convince the then Minister for Aboriginal Affairs in Victoria, Jeanette Powell, to support the Pangerang people in seeking recognition.

Waste watch was a passion—serving on the North East Regional Waste Management Group; supporting recycling in all its forms—and linking to this was his commitment to Tidy Towns, making the world a better place. For 10 years he was the national chairman of the Keep Australian Beautiful program. Don Chambers loved life— (Time expired)