Top 100 Most Influential people: Macarthur region part III
The Macarthur region’s most-anticipated countdown of the year, 16 new names are revealed on the Macarthur Chronicle’s top 100 most influential people.
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- TOP 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PART I: The Wiz to the Hayne Plane
- TOP 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PART II: From Tim Pickles to Brett McGrath
THE highly-anticipated Macarthur Chronicle Top 100 Most Influential list continues, with an additional 16 names introduced to the star-studded list.
From politics to sports, from medicine to business, from education to social media, from household names to unsung heroes, the five names to be revealed today have had a profound influence in their respective fields.
We will continue the countdown — in no particular order — over coming days.
No list of this kind can ever be truly definitive or achieve an absolute consensus.
But what this list succeeds in doing is serving as a starting point for a conversation about the kind of people who can and do play a major role in shaping the present and future of the Macarthur region.
Have your say: Who do you think should feature in the list? Do you know an unsung hero? Comment on Facebook or email editor@macarthurchronicle.com.au
24. TONY FITZGERALD: MATER DEI SCHOOL
The Mater Dei School chief executive and principal leads a team of teachers and staff who strive to make life better for students with an intellectual disability and their families.
Established in Camden 61 years ago, Mater Dei’s underpinning philosophy is inclusion for all.
The school launched a post-school program in term one this year, the Work and Community Pathways program, which aims to give school leavers the skills they need to determine the direction of their lives as much as possible.
Mater Dei has strong support from the Macarthur area community and its 10th annual Lipstick Lunch fundraiser raised more than $106,000 in May.
25. PROFESSOR ANNEMARIE HENNESSY: DEAN OF MEDICINE
Professor Annemarie Hennessy, OAM, is the Dean of Medicine and Foundation Professor of Medicine, at the School of Medicine at Western Sydney University.
She is an active obstetric and renal physician based at Campbelltown Hospital.
Prof Hennessy has a research interest in high blood pressure in pregnancy and has active research collaborations with universities and hospitals in Sydney, Canada and the USA.
She was the director of the Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy (HDP) Unit at the Royal Prince Alfred Women and Babies (RPAWB) from 1998 to October 2006 and continues in an honorary capacity within the unit.
26. KAY HAYES: CAMPBELLTOWN AND AIRDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESIDENT
Kay Hayes is into her second term as president of the Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society.
Since 1947, the society has collected artefacts and items of note from around the country and particularly those from the Campbelltown district.
It works to preserve the range of material in their collection including agricultural items and wedding dresses, as well as books, plans, and other manuscripts.
More than 8000 photographs, images, and documents have been digitised and catalogued.
Mrs Hayes drives the society and its members in the conservation of Campbelltown’s built, natural and cultural heritage.
27. JOHN WRIGLEY: CAMDEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY VICE PRESIDENT
John Wrigley is at the forefront of the protection and promotion of the Camden area’s rich history.
Mr Wrigley has written a number of books on Camden’s history and is also an honorary archivist of Camden Park, which was originally a large sheep station established by wool pioneer John Macarthur.
He was awarded an OAM in 2006 for his work preserving the history of Camden.
28. GRAEME GREEN: INGLEBURN PUBLIC SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Graeme Green is one of three educators from the Macarthur area to be named in The Educator magazine’s 50 innovative educations last year.
Green is currently working with UNSW clinical psychologist Associate Professor Eva Kimonis to establish a world-first trial of parent and child interaction therapy for young children with disruptive behaviours.
The trial will be based at the school and involve many schools in Sydney’s southwest.
Over the past two years, the innovative educator has also introduced the pedagogy of Universal Design for Learning at the school.
As a result, the teachers use all of their interests and a range of teaching methods to introduce concepts to students.
The method aims to improve teaching and is based on scientific insights about how people learn.
29. ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG: POLITICIAN
The Macquarie Fields state Labor MP, Anoulack Chanthivong has lived in the Campbelltown region for more than 25 years, having moved to Australia from Laos with his parents and three brothers when he was six.
He went to school locally before graduating from the University of Sydney and the London School of Economics.
He was elected to Campbelltown Council in 2004 and was the mayor in 2011-12.
He successfully contested the 2015 state election.
Mr Chanthivong is another strong voice for his community, and continues to lobby against the sell-off of Hurlstone and the lack of infrastructure in his electorate.
He says: “It is my passion to be a vocal campaigner on behalf of local residents to ensure a fair deal and a prosperous future for our area.”
30. HUGH SOUTHWELL: CAMDEN SHOW PRESIDENT, BUSINESS OWNER
Hugh Southwell, of The Oaks, is the face behind the ever-popular Camden Show, with a combined experience of more than 14 years as vice president and now president.
The owner of Southwell Irrigation, based in Camden for the past 60 years, Southwell has ensured the growth and success of one of Australia’s favourite country shows.
31. DANIEL GEALE: BOXER
Originally from Tasmania, Daniel Geale is one of Australia’s greatest middleweight boxers.
As the former unified champion of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association super middleweight titles in 2012, and 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Geale captured the nation’s heart with his humility and bravery.
Residing in Harrington Park with his wife and three children, Geale has not had a professional bout since 2016.
32. JULIE BABINEAU: ODYSSEY HOUSE CEO
Julie Babineau is the chief executive officer of one of Australia’s largest rehabilitation services, Odyssey House at Eagle Vale.
She took over from her predecessor James Pitts who retired in 2016 after 32 years of service to the organisation.
Babineau came to Odyssey House after a distinguished 30-year public service career in Australia and her native Canada.
Most recently the CEO of NSW Justice Health, Babineau said her keen interest and expertise in health and welfare issues was what attracted her to the not-for-profit sector.
33. RICARDO LONZA: WILDLIFE ACTIVIST
Wildlife activist Ricardo Lonza has fought for the protection of koalas across the Macarthur region and for protection of animal habitat in the wake of a housing boom.
He is the first port of call for anyone who finds an injured koala on a local road and has been known to travel out in the dead of night to get animals to a vet.
Through his Help Save the Wildlife and Bushlands in Campbelltown Facebook page, Mr Lonza has lobbied for governments of all levels to protect the local koala population, reaching an audience of more than 10,000 followers.
34. GRIMA BROS: FRESH PRODUCE SUPPLIERS
Since launching Grima Bros Wholesale Produce more than 30 years ago, the Grima Bros trio — Joe, Peter and Manny — has become regular smiling faces for the Gregory Hills community thanks to their quality products.
Attracting hundreds of signatures after their family business was threatened with extinction, the Grima Bros charm won over the community who fought for their survival.
35. HEATHER GARRIOCK: SPORTS STAR
Heather Garriock played 130 matches for the Australian women’s national team, appearing at three Olympic football tournaments and three FIFA Women’s World Cups.
She also played for Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers in the W-League and also had stints overseas including the US and Denmark.
She is now showing her potential as a coach, with time as an assistant coach to the Matildas and a W-League coach.
36. ADRIANA CARE: SOLICITOR
The principal solicitor of the all-female star team at Coutts Solicitors & Conveyancers, Camden Economic Taskforce chairwoman and former president of The Greater Narellan Chamber of Commerce, Mrs Care is a towering influence in the Macarthur region business community.
37. C91.3 JOSH AND LYNDAL: BREAKFAST TEAM
The effervescent Josh Webster and Lyndal Koteras set the tone of the day for many Macarthur area residents, who flick on local station C91.3 in the morning for some reassuring words about the weather, the traffic or what’s happening around the region.
Ally Redondo is currently doing an awesome job keeping Lyndal’s seat warm while she’s on mat’ leave.
38. JOHN CORBETT: BUSINESS OWNER AND PICTON DEVELOPER
Picton developer and owner of Picton Mall, John Corbett has a strong influence of the future direction of historic Picton.
The oldest son of the late local businessman Keith Corbett, John Corbett has a series of land holdings around central Picton with proposed plans including a microbrewery and hotel that are set to revitalise the central precinct.
Corbett is also a director of Picton’s Bendigo Community Bank.
39. ROBERT WHITTAKER: UFC CHAMPION
Robert Whittaker, who lives in the Macarthur region, has been named as a head coach for The Ultimate Fighter: 28 — the popular reality TV series he himself won in 2012.
The show, revered by UFC fans around the world, is not only beamed into millions of American homes, but Whittaker also will join an all-star list of coaches including Brock Lesnar, Ronda Rousey and Georges St-Pierre.
The 27 year old holds clinics for youths in his spare time at his home gym in Smeaton Grange, and also has visited several remote Australian indigenous youth communities in NSW.
Through this community service, he hopes to inspire the younger generation to take up combat sports by being a good role model to them.
40. PERICH FAMILY: BUSINESS OWNERS, DEVELOPERS
The Perich family, worth an estimated $1.9 billion, has been a major member of the Macarthur region and business community for decades.
Owner of Leppington Pastoral Company, founded by patriarch Tony’s parents in 1951, Greenfields Development Company, which controls more than 12,000 housing lots in the Macarthur region, including Oran Park, part-owner of Narellan Town Centre, as well as range of private investments in fertiliser, milk production, wood shavings and a share in a gold mining company.
The Perich family are strong supporters of local charities and are members of Narellan Rotary Club and Narellan Chamber of Commerce.