Mr MATT KEAN (Hornsby-Parliamentary Secretary) [7.45 p.m.]: Tonight I pay tribute to one of the true characters of the Hornsby shire who has dedicated his entire life to public service. This man's name is Michael Patrick Gallagher.
Michael Gallagher, or Mick to his friends, served for more than 50 years in the Royal Australian Navy and only recently retired at the age of 67. Mick lives in Mount Colah and is currently serving his second term as a Hornsby councillor. Mick has run as an Independent candidate for every local, State and Federal election since 1991. It is said he would run for the opening of an envelope. He likes to describe himself as the shire's "true blue fair dinkum" nominee.
Mick's strong sense of community service can be traced back to his early Navy days when he left school to join our national defence force on 8 January 1963 at the young age of 16 years. Mick's completion of the Queen's Scout Award with the Dee Why Scouts, his education at Manly Boys High and his upbringing from his World War II Army parents were the foundation for his Navy life. In Mick's own words the Navy helped instil a sense of direction in his young life when he was not sure what career he wanted to pursue.
Mick excelled in his initial 12 months as a junior recruit at the Navy training establishment of HMAS Leeuwin in Fremantle before joining the fleet in 1964. From 1964 to 1965, at age 17, he served as an Ordinary Seaman Quartermaster Gunner on board the HMAS Vampire. In 1965 the Vampire escorted the troop carrier HMAS Sydney, formerly an aircraft carrier of the Korean War, on her maiden voyage carrying Australian soldiers and equipment to the Vietnam War. In 1967 to 1968 Mick returned to the Vietnam War as an Able Seaman on the cargo-container vessel, MV Jeparit, which was carrying stores, ammunition and vehicles, including Centurion tanks, to Vung Tau and Cam Rahn Bay.
In 1968 he served on the escort frigate HMAS Yarra where he was promoted to Leading Seaman. From 1968 to 1969 he served on the patrol boat HMAS Aitape in New Guinea waters, before joining the guided missile ship HMAS Perth. Mick was promoted in 1971 to Petty Officer Gunnery Instructor which resulted in him joining the HMAS Sydney from 1971 to 1973 and undertaking a third tour of duty to Vietnam to bring the last lot of Australian troops to the war zone by sea and then help with the first sea trip to bring the troops home.
Mick's long and decorated naval career saw him travel to many places, including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. In a recent interview with the great Berowra Bush Telegraph Weekly, Mick said he was able to take it all in his stride because Navy personnel learnt to live on minimum sleep, "working 25 hours a day and eight days a week to get the job done." Mick's service to his country continued throughout 1974-75 on the oil tanker HMAS Supply helping with the clean-up following Cyclone Tracey, which struck Darwin on Christmas Eve 1974.
Whilst at sea Mick studied by correspondence and when his ship was in port attended North Sydney evening college. At the age of 28 he gained the Higher School Certificate. In 1976 Mick was chosen, together with three other sailors, to be trained as naval academic instructors. He underwent three years of study majoring in English and physical education. He went on to do a Bachelor of Arts and was later posted as a trade mathematics instructor to the then Navy apprenticeship school HMAS Nirimba in Quakers Hill. Following 22 years full-time service, Mick transferred to the naval reserve in 1985 and went on to develop his writing skills with the editorial team of Navy News.
Following his Navy Reserve duties, Mick went on to teach at local high schools, including Asquith Boys, Hornsby Girls, Normanhurst Boys, and his old alma mater Manly High. I note at Asquith Boys he taught fellow councillor Nathan Tilbury. Since then he has worked in the local music industry and politics and has been involved with many community sport, charity and social groups and activities over the years. Mick's tireless efforts in local politics saw him re-elected to Hornsby Shire Council in 2011 after an absence of 17 years. As a former mayor of Hornsby Shire Council, Mick brings plenty of experience and knowledge to his role as a local A Ward councillor. He is an approachable councillor willing to listen and help with a local constituent's concerns.
For the past three years I have had the pleasure of working with Councillor Gallagher on projects in the Hornsby area, including Hornsby Aquatics Centre and Hornsby Women's Shelter for the homeless and disadvantaged. I commend Councillor Gallagher for his infectious enthusiasm and dedication and the genuine affection he holds for his local community. Councillor Gallagher is an important member of the Hornsby council team and continues to work towards and deliver important goals for our community.
Mick's no-nonsense style of politics has seen him advocate for sustainable population growth, sensible development and a call on successive Federal governments to improve funding grants for major infrastructure projects. I commend Mick on his service to his country, council and local community. He is one of the true characters of Hornsby and a much admired leader in our shire who always puts the community first. While our politics may differ at times, we are both committed to Hornsby and making it the best place it can possibly be.
Read the full speech in Hansard here.
