Aunty Margaret Anderson, who passed away earlier this month, was a quiet achiever who made her mark in Campbelltown.
Local MP Greg Warren, the member for Campbelltown, paid a tribute to Aunty Margaret in the NSW Parliament last week.
“It is with great sadness that I acknowledge the passing of Aunty Margaret Anderson,’’ he said.
“She was a great woman in many ways. She was a pillar of the Campbelltown community,’’ Mr Warren said.
He noted that Aunty Margaret, who was named Female Elder of the Year at the NAIDOC community awards, was instrumental in the early development of the Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation in Airds.
“She was also involved with research into dementia through the Koori Dementia Care Project and the Koori Growing Old Well Study,’’ Mr Warren told parliament.
“Aunty Margaret will be remembered for her knowledge and wisdom – and sense of humour.
“I remember recognising Aunty Margaret at many NAIDOC events, along with the many other valued Elders within the Campbelltown community and the Tharawal people,’’ Mr Warren said.
“She was always up for a joke. She always wanted to have a laugh about everything going on.
“One thing that Aunty Margaret was steadfast about was the support of her community – our community – in Campbelltown and across the Macarthur region.
“She advocated, lobbied for and achieved many outcomes, going back long before I was in this place and probably long before I was even born.
“Most of all, she will be remembered for her kindness and her selflessness towards young families throughout the entire region, particularly in Campbelltown.
“We all loved her, and we will miss her. We will miss her not only because she is not here on earth anymore but also because she will not be advocating in her true voice, as she always did.
“Vale, Aunty Margaret.’’
