ADJOURNMENT
Ms TEMPLEMAN (Macquarie) (12:07): It's a really sad fact that you learn so much more about your fellow community members only when they're gone, and that is certainly the case for a wonderful Blue Mountains resident, Dr Heather Stewart. Heather joined my Labor Party branch just in the last year or so, but she'd been active in the Yes23 campaign and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
While I had insight into her passion for social justice and her love for her son, Jack, I now know much more about her career of caring as a GP across the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and Western Sydney; as an inspiring role model to other young women doctors; and as a wonderful, warm, kind, caring, funny and straight-talking GP, in the words of her patients, until her retirement in 2018.
As Trish Doyle, the state member for Blue Mountains, said in her tribute, 'Heather was a passionate advocate for LGBTIQA+ colleagues in the medical profession and the local community.' Chris Marks said: 'We all worked so well together to make a difference in the lives of women and children. Heather was passionate, dynamic and so knew her job as a GP—so pleased to have shared that period of my life around her till the early 90's.' I think all of us who had the opportunity to hear her thoughtful insights on policy and see her personal commitment in her retirement years to participating in campaigns for change agree that we were so lucky to have shared a period of our lives with Heather.
To Jack, Elizabeth, Calum and her family and many friends—and I include the member for Whitlam, who's in the chamber—I express my deepest condolences on behalf of a very grateful community. The Hawkesbury has a proud history in agriculture and animal production, and I was delighted to again attend and officially open the Greater Schools Sydney Cattle Competition recently.
This year I co-hosted it with Dr Rob Zammit. Over the past 100 days or so, students from across Greater Sydney have taken part in a steer growth and development project, giving them a unique hands-on experience. I'm sure it will go on to inspire many of these students to continue developing their skills in agriculture and animal production.
I give a special mention to the teachers, many of whom are now retired but keep doing this competition, and to all the students who represented schools across Macquarie, including Richmond High, Colo High, Bede Polding College, St Columba's College and Arndell Anglican College. It was fantastic to see your hard work come together on that day with those beautiful animals.
What a privilege it was to join in with Penrith mayor Todd Carney for Penrith City Council's Local Celebration Awards. Among those celebrated were Emu Plains local Bruce Turner AM, who was named Honoured Citizen, a fitting tribute to a man with more than 50 years of service to his community. I'm told that much of Bruce's work has been behind the scenes, which goes with the territory for an auditor.
His contribution to auditing has been recognised internationally. Nationally, Bruce received an AM in 2015 and his work has extended to agencies like the New South Wales Ombudsman and ICAC. Even closer to home, his contribution to Penrith is recognised at the ATO site and on the Penrith City Wall of Achievement.
Alongside this is Bruce's passion for preserving the heritage of the Nepean region, with a trilogy of books that capture local history and events and ensure that so many local stories will be known by future generations. It is a very well deserved honour, and it was great to see Bruce's family celebrate with him. We also marked Farah Madon's AM at the Australia Day honours.
She received it for her service to architecture and her advocacy for people with a disability. While not a constituent of mine, I also want to mention Michael Allen PSM and now OAM. Mike is chair of Link Wentworth, which is working with the federal and state governments to expand the region's affordable and social housing.
Mike was one of many who I cheered on at their Home Sweet annual sleep-out at the Sydney International Regatta Centre. Also celebrated was Michael Kovacs AFSM, who received a King's birthday honour for his work with the rural fire service since the day he joined at the age of 14 in 1988. He has fought many fires across my region, including the Black Summer fires.
These are all shining examples of what makes the Nepean community special. The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Aldred ): My condolences on the passing of Dr Heather.