Nicholas Whitlam paid tribute to his late father and other Labor figures of the past when he officially opened the office of the State Member for Macquarie Fields, Anoulack Chanthivong.
Gough Whitlam once held the Federal seat of Werriwa, which encompasses the state electorate boundary of Macquarie Fields.
Nicholas Whitlam is a prominent businessman, career banker and chairman of the Port Authority of NSW – and the second son of Gough – Prime Minister between 1972 and 1975.
Anoulack’s predecessors were also in attendance to mark the opening last Friday, including Dr Andrew McDonald and Craig Knowles, whose father, Stan, held the seat from 1988 to 1990 and was Member for Ingleburn from 1981 to 1988.
Mr Chanthivong said he was both humbled and immensely proud to serve the people of the Macquarie Fields electorate, particularly given the legacy that had gone before him.
“I am indebted to those former parliamentarians who have provided their counsel and made my journey as a new representative all the more easier,” Mr Chanthivong said.
“I am especially indebted to Nicholas Whitlam for agreeing to open the office and for his kind and encouraging words.
“It is an honour and privilege to stand among the likes of Nicholas Whitlam, the Knowles family and
Dr Andrew McDonald, and I thank the people of the Macquarie Fields electorate for giving me this opportunity to serve them as their local member.
“Now that the office has moved to Ingleburn, I look forward to continuing to focus my energy on the needs of the electorate and advocating on behalf of the community for our fair share of services,” he added.
