Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'd like to acknowledge and remember the incredible life of Sunny Bancroft. Sunny was a very much loved Indigenous leader from the Clarence Valley, who recently passed away at the age of 76. He attended Baryulgil and Copmanhurst schools as a child but left school at the age of 14 to work alongside his family at Collum Collum station, where he was mentored by his grandfather. Over the years Sunny worked a number of jobs, from cutting railway sleepers and breaking in racehorses to working in mills and managing stations. Wherever he went, he left a very strong impression.

In 1979 Sunny moved his family back to Baryulgil and worked on Yulgilbar station before taking up the position of manager of Collum Collum station. During this time he was featured in documentaries like the Stockman's Strategy and Sunny and the Dark Horse, sharing his life and love of the land with a wider audience. Sunny's life wasn't always easy, but it was full of grit, love and unforgettable stories. He was a bushman, a horseman, a mate, a father, a grandfather and a storyteller. His legacy will live on in the memories he shared and the land he loved. Sheryl summed up Sunny perfectly at his funeral when she said:

Whether you knew him for a day, or you knew him for a lifetime, once Sunny touched your life he was never forgotten.

Rest in peace, Sunny.