Nominations for Life Membership Annual Conference 2018 PRESENTATIONS: SUNDAY 1 JULY, SYDNEY TOWN HALL ALP Life Membership Cover 2016 v3.indd 1 7/02/2016 11:40 pm Nominations for Life Membership Annual Conference 2018 2 AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NSW BRANCH John Adams NOMINATED BY BELMONT CENTRAL BRANCH Supported by Pat Conroy MP John joined the Wallsend Branch at age 22 in time for the 1974 Double Dissolution election. Like many Party members, John was outraged by the dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and was committed to ‘maintaining the rage’ from then on. He married in 1976 and moved to Edgeworth, joining the West Wallsend Branch. He held most positions in the branch including delegate to the Wallsend SEC. He served as Secretary, then President of the SEC as well as campaign director in State Election campaigns. He worked in the oil industry and was the shop floor delegate for the Australian Workers Union and represented them at Newcastle Trades Hall Council. John represented the Party as a Councillor on Lake Macquarie Council for two terms. John has retired to Swansea where he has become a member of the Belmont Central Branch. NOMINATIONS FOR LIFE MEMBERSHIP 3 Marie Amery NOMINATED BY ROOTY HILL BRANCH Supported by Ed Husic MP, Edmond Atalla MP, Roger Price, Richard Amery and Allan Shearan Marie joined the Australian Labor Party in 1978 when she became a member of the Rooty Hill Branch and has retained membership of this Branch ever since. Her involvement in the Party has always been at the Branch level, working on every Council, State and Federal election since joining the Party. At each election Marie can be seen working on pre-poll booths, letterbox drives and working all day at the local polling booth for Labor candidates. At various times over the past forty years Marie has also been actively involved in her local community, serving on parks committee, Girl Guides Association and in the canteen of the local primary and high school. In addition to her public role as the wife of the former local Member of Parliament, Richard Amery, Marie has continued to be active in the local Branch, serving on the Branch Credentials Committee, assisting in the running of monthly meetings and has been the Branch Returning Officer for some 20 years. Kay Anderson NOMINATED BY EMU PLAINS BRANCH Supported by Clr Karen McKeown Kay has been a member of the Australian Labor Party for almost 44 years. She has been a consistent member of the Emu Plains Branch and in that time has held a number of positions including branch delegate. Kay has worked on many State, Federal and Local Government campaigns in her period of membership. She is also active in her community as a Life Member of the Friends of Penrith Regional Gallery, serving as Secretary since 1994. Kay worked as a Registered Nurse and Midwife and was a member of the Nurses and Midwifes Association during her career. Kay is the wife of Peter Anderson, former member of the Legislative Assembly between 1978 and 1995. 4 AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NSW BRANCH Jim Angel NOMINATED BY KATOOMBA BRANCH Jim joined the Oberon Branch in 1974, transferring to Katoomba Branch in 1977. He served as President and Secretary of Katoomba Branch from 1980 to 2007, Secretary and President of both the Blue Mountains SEC and Macquarie FEC and many times delegate to the Annual State Conference. Jim was a Western Coalfields representative for the Electrical Trades Union, then employed as a Training Officer for the Metal Trades Federation of Unions/Trade Union Training Authority. Jim was elected to Blue Mountains City Council in 1981 and served on council until 2008. He was the longest serving Mayor of ten years, in addition to six years as Deputy Mayor. He was Deputy Chair of Prospect County Council in 1987 and delegate representing the cities of Blue Mountains, Lithgow and the Shire of Rylstone. Jim also served many terms as delegate to the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils and was appointed for a term as board member of the Greater Western Sydney Economic Development Board. Barbara Armitage NOMINATED BY KATOOMBA BRANCH Barbara joined the Australian Labor Party in 1975 at the North Bondi Branch. She soon transferred to the Waverley Branch and then the Bronte Branch before settling at the Katoomba Branch in 1997. During her time in the Waverley area, she ran in the Local Government Election in 1977 and then was elected to Waverley Council in a by-election. She served on the Council for 20 years including 10 years as Mayor. Barbara was the Labor endorsed candidate for the 1994 Vaucluse by-election. Barbara was Chair of the NSW Local Government Grants Commission, a member of the Premiers Crime Prevention Council and Chair of Sydney Coast Councils. NOMINATIONS FOR LIFE MEMBERSHIP 5 Jennifer Bates NOMINATED BY BALMAIN BRANCH Jennifer joined the Balmain Branch in 1976. She has been a branch member and unionist ever since. Jennifer worked as an Electorate Officer for Rodney Cavalier, former Member for Gladesville and former Senator John Faulkner before retiring. She aslo served as Assistant Secretary of the Balmain Branch and alternate delegate to the local SEC. She is passionate about the values of social justice and equality and is a strong supporter of Labor candidates at all levels of Government. Mary Callcott NOMINATED BY MAYFIELD BRANCH Supported by Sharon Claydon MP Mary joined the Australian Labor Party in 1974. She has maintained active membership of her local Mayfield Branch. Mary has campaigned for all three tiers of Government since the beginning of her membership, from doorknocking to handing out how-to-votes on Election Day. Mary assisted many candidates by running their postal vote campaign as well as visiting housebound supporters and aged care residents to ensure they had contact with the Labor campaigns. In the branch, Mary was the auditor for many years and previously represented the branch at the ALP Women’s Health Collective and Emily’s List. Mary is an avid attendee of fundraisers, often travelling to Sydney to attend. 6 AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NSW BRANCH Ann Catling NOMINATED BY BALMAIN BRANCH Supported by Anthony Albanese MP and Mayor Darcy Byrne Ann joined the Balmain Branch of the ALP in 1975 and has remained an active member of that Branch ever since. Ann has been Vice President and President of the Branch over the years as well as a member of the Economic Policy Committee. Ann was a delegate to National Conference throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Ann is a life member of the Finance Sector Union and was both the President and Vice President of the then Commonwealth Bank Officers Association. Douglas Cliffe NOMINATED BY CAMDEN BRANCH Supported by Greg Warren MP Douglas joined the Camden Branch in 1974 and has been an active member ever since. He has held the position of Returning Officer and Assistant Secretary in the Branch throughout this time. Douglas has also been a delegate to both Macarthur FEC and Camden SEC throughout his time. Douglas was a member of the Australaisan Coal & Shale Employees Federation. NOMINATIONS FOR LIFE MEMBERSHIP 7 Carol Comyns NOMINATED BY NEWCASTLE CITY DAY BRANCH Supported by Sharon Claydon MP In 1975, with husband Gary, Carol lived in London and marched along the Strand in a rally for Gough Whitlam when hearing of his dismissal. Upon their return to Australia in 1978, Carol and Gary joined the Newcastle Branch. Throughout the years, Carol has held a range of positions in the branch including Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, Delegate to SEC and FEC as well as co-Branch Campaign Director. She worked consistently with all the usual election campaign efforts, even working on a booth in Ballina while on holidays. Carol was Treasurer for Newcastle SEC for 13 years and co-Campaign Office organiser during State Election Campaigns. In 2013, she transferred to Newcastle City Day Branch and remained an SEC Delegate. She continues to be involved in fundraising and campaigns. As a teacher in both high schools and TAFE, Carol was a member of the Teachers Federation. 8 AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NSW BRANCH Betty Cooper NOMINATED BY MAYFIELD BRANCH Supported by Sharon Claydon MP, Tim Crakanthorp MP Betty has been a dedicated supporter of the Australian Labor Party since joining the Mayfield Branch more than 50 years ago. She is a long-term delegate to the Newcastle FEC and a very diligent campaign worker. Rarely missing a meeting, Betty has coordinated the monthly raffle at the Mayfield Branch meetings without respite for decades. During election campaigns, across all tiers of Government, Betty’s calm and supportive nature is always welcomed as she dedicates countless hours to staffing her local polling booth on Election Day. Outside of her work for the Party, Betty is heavily involved with her local community and was a member of the Shop Assistants Union. Betty is also a recipient of the Party’s McKell award. John Curry NOMINATED BY KATOOMBA BRANCH John began his involvement with the Labor Party in 1971 through the St George Young Labor Association. John served in his local Young Labor district as President and Secretary as well as delegate to Youth Council and Annual State Conference. From 1977, John was an Industrial Officer with the Administrative & Clerical Officers' Association (now known as the CPSU). John went on to become Assistant Private Secretary and then Senior Private Secretary to then Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Hon Sen Arthur Gietzelt. John transferred to the Katoomba Branch in 1983 before moving to Canberra where he was a member of the Dickson Branch.