Page 3526 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 25 August 2009
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While not knowing Barbara personally, she was clearly dedicated to helping others in all areas of our community and she will be dearly missed by the many people she had supported through her tireless work. Again, I offer our most sincere sympathy to Barbara’s friends and loved ones as they mourn the passing of this important Canberra citizen.
MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Treasurer, Minister for Health, Minister for Community Services and Minister for Women) (10.10): I am honoured to speak to the condolence motion this morning in memory of Barbara Byrne OAM.
As a long-term member of the Australian Labor Party and, in particular, through my growing up in Weston Creek, I knew Barbara over many years. She was a wonderful woman. She was a great communicator, and I think anyone who knew her would know that she was never shy in letting her opinions be known. She was a strong supporter of younger people in the party, and particularly young women, and a strong supporter of many aspects of community life, particularly if they related to her beloved Weston Creek.
Barbara brought a great deal of energy, commitment and passion to the various roles she played. These roles were both within and outside the Labor Party. She made a true commitment to Canberra. I can think of only a few people who participate to the level that Barbara did in terms of contributing to our city’s life and the community in so many different ways.
The Chief Minister has spoken of Barbara’s involvement in the arts community, and I know some of my other colleagues will speak of Barbara’s support for grassroots sport, her championing of volunteers and her commitment to the club sector, through which she played an outstanding role as both president and director of the Canberra Labor club and through the industry’s peak body, ClubsACT, where she served as vice-president between 1998 and 2001.
Through the Labor club, Barbara was able to lend support to many not-for-profit organisations as chair of the community assistance committee. She was always very keen to hear about a worthy cause, if you were aware of one, and how she could help through her role on that community assistance committee.
Barbara was also a member of the board of directors of Actew. She was appointed to the board in 2003 and was reappointed for a further three years in 2006. She had been active in various community sectors for many years following her long and distinguished career in the Department of Defence. Her demonstrated commitment, loyalty and support of the community were greatly admired and were reflected in her contribution to the board. Her understanding of Actew’s obligations and responsibilities to the community to provide reliable and adequate water supplies was ably demonstrated through her input into discussions of important strategic issues.
At the time Barbara joined the board, the territory had been experiencing drought conditions for a few years. These were challenging and difficult times as Actew developed strategies to address the impact of the drought and climate change. I know
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