Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Daisy Brown—nee Cran—was a proud Kamilaroi woman—a sand goanna woman—born in 1935 in the scrub outside Walgett back at a time when Koori kids could be taken. Daisy's Kamilaroi culture and language were taught to her secretly by her uncles. Back then First Nations children's played in separate playgrounds and sat separately at school. Daisy's seamstress mother had to carry a certificate of exemption just to buy material in Walgett's white shops. It is no surprise that this apartheid environment saw Walgett deliver a no vote of 40 per cent in the 1967 referendum.

Daisy was the first Aboriginal woman to work in the Walgett shops and to handle money. Daisy went on to have six children with Mick Brown—Marcia, Jenny, Patricia, Tracey, Peter and Michael. I pretended to be Mick and Daisy's seventh child and they let me. Daisy worked hard for her family as a cook, cleaner, after-school carer and teacher aid. She was the cleaner at St George State High School on the first day it opened when Peter and I were in grade 8. I left after year 12.

Daisy was beloved by her many, many grandchildren, especially by the young Daisy Brown—Peter and Karen's daughter. Daisy passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family yesterday morning. Thankfully, she was able to catch up with many of her grandchildren, who surprised her, and she passed away peacefully. As her son Peter said, 'The flame that never flickered is out.' Daisy Brown was a wonderful second mum to me. Vale, Daisy Brown.