CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS
Dr FREELANDER (Macarthur) (10:25): It's a great privilege for me to stand in this chamber and speak about my good friend and our community stalwart in Macarthur, Uncle Ivan Wellington. I've known many people of importance throughout my life, but there are very few whose importance is due primarily to their incredible character, their generosity of spirit and their community support.
Uncle Ivan Wellington is one such person. He leaves a lasting positive impression on everyone he meets, and the deep wisdom and commitment he has for local Indigenous history and community support is second to none. Before moving to Macarthur over 30 years ago, Uncle Ivan was born in Kaiama on 25 August 1946.
He grew up with six brothers and sisters in a mission on the Shoalhaven on Jerrinja lands. They were known as saltwater people. This reflects Uncle Ivan's salt-of-the-earth persona.
He is renowned throughout the Macarthur region for his warm, beautiful spirit and his willingness to live a life of service to the community. I've had the pleasure of knowing Uncle Ivan for the 30 years he's lived in our region, and have worked alongside him to deliver better outcomes for our Indigenous community, particularly in the healthcare space, through the work that he and others have done for First Nations people of Macarthur in our wonderful Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation with his great mate Uncle Darryl Wright, and Melinda Bell and her team at Tharawal.
Uncle Ivan is renowned for his extraordinary smoking ceremonies and his welcomes to country which, every time I see them, I love. They always make us feel good about the place that we come from, the place where we live. He always uses the fresh eucalyptus leaves that the children from Tharawal have helped him pick from the trees that house koalas in my electorate.
It is the most incredible welcoming scent that I will forever remember. Aside from being a man of incredible strength and warmth, Uncle Ivan has a tremendous sense of humour. On countless occasions, his ability to crack a joke and lighten the mood is really wonderful for all to see.
Uncle Ivan has the wisdom that comes from a life of experience and service, and he has always been someone people can turn to, whether they need advice, encouragement, a laugh or simply someone who's willing to listen to them. He's a wonderful man. In 2021, he was made the Campbelltown Citizen of the Year.
He has an Order of Australia. He is a wonderful, wonderful man. Ahead of his birthday next week, and on behalf of the Macarthur community, I wish Uncle Ivan a wonderful, wonderful and happy birthday.