Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Newcastle has lost one of its larger-than-life champions, Arthur Wade, OAM, who passed away peacefully aged 95 last Sunday. Arthur was a man of true Labor values and principles. Born and educated in Carrington, Arthur joined the Australian Labor Party in 1935 before serving the party as an alderman on Shortland County Council and Newcastle City Council from 1947 to 1968, including a year as deputy lord mayor in 1958.

He was elected to the New South Wales parliament in 1968, where he served as the state member for Newcastle for the next 20 years. Arthur was party whip under Neville Wran and also served as chair of the New South Wales parliamentary Labor Party. As state member, Arthur saw the introduction of electrified trains into the city of Newcastle and was a strong advocate for the rights of working men and women, ensuring that those most in need were never left behind. Arthur was a founding member of the Hunter Valley Cancer Appeal, a founder of the Australia Day Council and chair of the RSL district council for many years. Before serving his community of Newcastle, Arthur served his nation in the Second Australian Imperial Force during World War II. He was captured in 1941 and was a prisoner of war in Germany and Poland until the end of the war.

I offer my condolences to Arthur's wife, Heather, his children, Bill, Joanie and Barry, and his extended family. Arthur's contribution to Newcastle and the Australian Labor Party was immense. (Time expired)