STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr LIM (Tangney) (16:01): Dear friends, with a very heavy heart, I wish to share that my dear friend and my first Australian neighbour, Uncle Bruce, has passed away from mesothelioma. Last year I spoke about Uncle Bruce. He looked over the fence, saw that I did not know anything about how to care for my lawn or my garden, and decided to come across and help—a small action with a lifetime effect.

Uncle Bruce showed me Australia at its best: kind, giving, welcoming, neighbourly. My family and I love Uncle Bruce very, very much. These days, it is so easy to be divided, but Uncle Bruce shows us our common humanity with his family, with his mates at the RAAFA bar at Bull Creek, or as he taught Jeff, a new migrant who runs a newsagency, all the best Aussie words.

As someone wrote to me, we need more Uncle Bruces in our lives, and we need not to forget to be Uncle Bruce ourselves as well. So please look over the fence and greet your neighbour. Rest in peace, Uncle Bruce.

Our whole family miss you. Thank you.