Sharon Bird (Cunningham, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Vocational Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is with sadness that I have to take the opportunity in the Parliament today to report the passing of an absolutely wonderful trailblazing woman. Toni Newman died on 29 March after a long battle with melanoma. She was a good friend, as was her partner, Dave Voltz. Many in this place will know Dave. I say she was a trailblazer because she was one of the country's first female apprentice electricians. In fact, Dave tells me that he first met her while playing pool at the Royal Oak Hotel, and he was particularly attracted because she was wearing a bib and brace and steel-capped boots. She obviously will be very sadly missed by her partner, Dave – they had been together 28 years – her parents, Win and Claire, who still live in our local area at Lake Heights, her sisters, Lesley – and her partner, Greg – Karen and Michelle, and her beloved nieces and nephews.

She was very grateful for the care and expertise of Dr Carlino and the staff at Westmead Hospital. Toni loved Granville, where she made her home with Dave. She loved the Rabbitohs, she was a whiz of a quilter and she particularly felt that those she worked with at Clipsal-Schneider were good friends who provided great support to her during her illness from her workplace. She will be sadly missed by all of us, a real trailblazing woman.