Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

On 10 November 2024, a dear friend of mine entered eternal life. Trish Moran was a Labor legend on the Central Coast. She understood working-class values and the importance of the trade union movement in improving the lives of all Australians. To the members of the Ourimbah Narara Valley branch, which she founded in 1984, Trish was described as the glue that brought people together. She was a natural leader who was the custodian and embodiment of Labor ideals.

Trish was an ardent supporter of the Australian Republic Movement, being a candidate to attend the 1998 Constitutional Convention after the recommendation of Malcolm Turnbull. Trish ran for the seat of Robertson in both 2001 and 2004, bravely putting herself into contention to represent our great community. While Trish proved unsuccessful in both of those attempts, she did run mighty campaigns, with the sitting member at the time of the first attempt, Jim Lloyd, describing her as a 'worthy opponent'. After her second attempt, New South Wales Premier Neville Wran described her as 'the best candidate New South Wales Labor had fielded in years'. Importantly, Trish allowed those that came after her in Robertson, such as me and the current member, Dr Gordon Reid, to stand on the shoulders of the incredible work that she did as a Labor titan.

To Trish's loved ones, especially Andy and their three children, please know that, beside you, we also miss Trish very deeply. We've lost a titan of the labour movement. A dear friend of hers has asked me to conclude with these remarks and a quote from her funeral: 'Trish Moran fought the good fight to the end, ran the good race until the finish, and she kept the faith.' I want to say she was also a fabulous teacher-librarian, and my own daughter Caitlin was happy to be her library monitor in year 4 at Holy Cross Catholic School, Kincumber.