Politicians pay tribute to ‘fearless’ Department for Infrastructure and Transport leader Angela Gerace

Department for Infrastructure and Transport leader Angela Gerace is being remembered as “brave and fearless” after her death at just 45.

Angela Gerace with her parents Michael and Sue. Picture: Supplied

Prominent politicians are among those paying tribute to Department for Infrastructure and Transport leader Angela Gerace who has passed away after a short battle with blood cancer.

Angela, who died on July 5 at age 45, is being remembered by family, friends and colleagues as not only “brave and fearless”, but also “irreplaceable”.

Treasurer Stephen Mulligan, Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis and DIT chief executive Jon Whelan are among those who have paid their respects.

Angela was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in April, just four months after her father Michael died from another form of blood cancer. Picture: Supplied

Angela Gerace and her cat Gracie. Picture: Supplied

Angela was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in April, just four months after her beloved father Michael died from another form of blood cancer on December 5.

Feeling unwell she had tests and was shocked by her diagnosis but determined to beat it.

“She said I am going to fight it with everything I’ve got,” her sister Maria told The Advertiser.

Sadly, Angela died 10 weeks later after she contracted an infection that took hold “like wildfire”.

The youngest of her parents Michael and Sue’s three children, Angela was born at Ashford Hospital on January 2, 1979.

The family lived at Pasadena and, like her brother Pat and sister Maria, Angela attended Cabra Dominican College, at Cumberland Park.

A high achiever, she excelled at sports – in particular tennis, basketball and karate.

“Angela didn’t like to come second,” Pat said.

Maria (left), Pat (centre) and Angela (right) in 1979. Picture: Supplied

Angela’s family said they were touched by the support they had received and that they took comfort in knowing she was now reunited with her father. Picture: Supplied

Maria said her younger sister also enjoyed callisthenics as a child and was known to return to the stage for an impromptu encore solo performance much to the audience’s delight.

Maria added: “As an adult she didn’t like to be centre stage – she liked to make others look good.”

After completing her schooling, Angela worked at the Parkside restaurant Sizzler.

She began studying economics, but decided it was not for her.

“Numbers were a bit dry for her – working with people was more her scene,” Pat said.

While Angela had always been an animal lover, Pat said his sister could not work for an organisation like the RSPCA because “she would want to bring them all home”.

Sue agreed Angela always had an “affinity” with animals.

“You couldn’t put Lassie on without having a box of tissues on the table,” she said.

After successfully applying for a traineeship, Angela worked in Patrick Conlon’s electoral office, which she ended up running.

When Mr Conlon became an MP, she worked for him as a ministerial adviser for transport.

Next she took a role at the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, where she rose through the ranks – over nearly 20 years – to become the deputy director of the Office of the Chief Executive.

“Angela’s knowledge of politics and departmental processes meant she was quite influential and sought after by all of the CEOs,” her brother Pat said.

“She was able to transcend … as governments changed she was a trusted and consistent person who gave brave and fearless advice.”

Angela Gerace with her parents Sue and Michael. Picture: Supplied

Treasurer Stephen Mulligan, Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis and DIT chief executive Jon Whelan were among the “endless raft” of high profile names who had reached out to the family after hearing of Angela’s passing.

Her boss Mr Whelan had personally visited and said she was irreplaceable.

“He said there really is no one who can do Angela’s job and that no one ever had a bad word to say about her,” Maria said.

A mentor and role model to her colleagues, Angela knew the importance of work-life balance. She was family-focused and a much-loved aunt to her four nieces and nephews.

Angela Gerace with her nieces and nephews. Picture: Supplied

“They adored her and she was the one who would go on the scary rides with them and teach them karate – she was fearless,” Maria said, adding Angela also took great pride in her home: “She could have been an interior designer.”

Angela’s family said they were touched by the support they had received and that they took comfort in knowing she was now reunited with her father.

“She’s with him,” they agreed, also saying to Angela: “You were loved”.