STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr LEESER (Berowra) (13:39): I wish a very happy 100th birthday to Jean Elizabeth Lindsay, born this day in 1926 in Hong Kong. Jean had an exciting childhood. She grew up in a hotel, but everything changed when she was evacuated from Hong Kong, pending the Japanese invasion, as a 14-year-old to Australia, living with strangers.

Apart from her parents and her brother, whom she didn't know were alive or dead for many years, her optimism got her through the war and she was reunited with them after the war. She married her childhood sweetheart, Jim, and they were married for over 50 years. They had two children, Jen and Roger; four grandchildren, Joanna, Warwick, Sasha and Rohan; and nine great-grandchildren, James, Ruth, Alex, Georgia, Zoe, Angus, Hannah, Elsie and William.

Jean worked for the Department of Post-War Reconstruction after the war, but she always wanted to be a schoolteacher. In her 80s, along with other residents of the Grange, she went and read to children at Mount Colah Public School, which she did until she was 90—a lifelong dream fulfilled. Jean is one of those extraordinary, optimistic, warm, fun-loving people that is a wonderful influence on everybody she meets.

I was privileged to have all her support in my political career when she served as the vice-president of the Westleigh Fox Valley branch. Jean, thank you for the amazing person you are. I celebrate this day with you and the family.

Here is to many more happy returns and happy celebrations with a remarkable Australian.