Top 100 Most Influential people: Macarthur region part IIII
THE Macarthur region’s most-anticipated countdown of the year, 20 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
- TOP 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PART III: From Daniel Geale to Adriana Care
THE highly anticipated Macarthur Chronicle Top 100 Most Influential list continues, with an additional 20 names introduced to the star-studded list.
From politics to sports, from medicine to business, from law to insta-fame, from household names to unsung heroes, these 20 people have had a profound influence.
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
41. LARA SYMKOWIAK, RON MOORE: CAMDEN COUNCIL MAYOR AND GENERAL MANAGER
Camden Council Mayor Lara Symkowiak and Ron Moore are responsible for directing the local government area’s 2018/19 Operational Plan (budget) which includes expenditure of more than $305 million, including $121 million for operational projects and services delivered by council and $148 million worth of works in kind by agreement with developers.
Camden Council is paving the way for the transformation of the district, from semirural outpost to the fastest growing area in NSW.
With a focus on providing infrastructure to meet the growing community, Camden Council has led the way in providing new parks, roads, libraries, leisure centre upgrades and the like.
Partnering a number of causes including R U OK? Day and committed to the Western Sydney City Deal, Camden Council has introduced measures to prepare for the growth as well as meeting the needs of its community.
Cr Symkowiak has been a councillor since 2008 and mayor since 2012. Mr Moore joined Camden Council in 2013.
42. JODY SCOTT: LOST FOUND AND INJURED PETS FOUNDER
The motivated and energetic Jody Scott is the founder of one of the Macarthur region’s most valuable community Facebook groups.
The Ruse resident, launched Campbelltown Lost, Founds and Injured Pets in 2013.
Now with more than 26,000 members, she has assisted in reuniting about 5000 beloved pets to their rightful owners.
Scott and the group administration not only volunteer their time to scan and locate lost pets, but they also attend to deceased animals.
The group also provides emergency financial assistance for injured pets, provide ID tips for animals reunited with their families and assists with microchipping.
Scott’s hard work was honoured as the 2018 Campbelltown Citizen of the Year, following the recognition of Campbelltown Lost, Found and Injured Pets as Campbelltown City’s community group of the year in 2017.
43. PAULA ZRILIC: COMMUNITY ADVOCATE
Zrilic established Our Community Pantry in Tahmoor in 2015 and it relocated to Bargo in January.
A domestic abuse survivor and mother of three, Zrilic launched the food distribution centre to provide a service for families or individuals facing hardship.
The organisation provides affordable groceries, fresh fruit, vegetables and essential items for the more than 900 member families.
The charity supports 900 families across Wollondilly shire each week who need assistance to make ends meet especially with food.
Through her work, Zrilic meets women who have had similar experiences to herself. She says she’s just glad she can make a small difference in their lives.
44. BRETT EMERTON: SPORTS STAR
The former Macquarie Fields youngster has influenced a generation of young soccer players and shown them a pathway to success, through the Macarthur Rams, Sydney Olympic, Sydney FC, Feyenoord Rotterdam, Blackburn Rovers and, of course, the Socceroos with whom he played a starring role at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Since moving back to the region after his overseas success, Brett Emerton has become the face of the United for Macarthur A-League bid.
He is also very generous with his time and always available to the FFA, Football NSW and Macarthur Football Association to promote the game he loves and which has played a defining role in his life.
45. GERRY KNIGHTS: SYDNEY SOUTH WEST ACADEMY OF SPORT
A founding father and executive director of South West Sydney Academy of Sport, Gerry Knights has guided thousands of athletes through the academy in sports including netball, softball, golf and triathlon.
The academy also has a huge honour roll of sports stars who have gone on to represent Australia at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, world championships and Youth Olympics. One of Knights’ strength has been to create partnerships to ensure academy athletes have a rounded education beyond sport and as many opportunities as possible.
Knights is also a quality athlete himself, representing Australia at the World Masters Hockey tournament in 2017.
46. GREG WARREN: POLITICIAN
Campbelltown state Labor MP Greg Warren wrested the seat from the Liberal Party in 2015 in a boilover result.
Since then he has become a dedicated representative for his community. Warren is an ex-serviceman, having served in the Australian Regular Army for eight years as an infantry and transport soldier and Non Commissioned Officer (NCO).
He was previously stationed at the Ingleburn Army Camp. He then worked as a general manager in business logistics.
Warren was a Camden councillor for two terms from 2008, including as deputy mayor and mayor from 2010-12.
He also held the positions of director and vice president of the Campbelltown Chamber of Commerce.
In 2016 and 2017 Warren trekked the Kokoda Trail to raise funds for Kids of Macarthur and the paediatric unit at Campbelltown Hospital.
He is fiercely passionate about supporting his local community and is a strong voice in Parliament for Campbelltonians.
47. DECLAN MORTIMER: ENTREPRENEUR
At just 16 years of age, Declan Mortimer has featured in Influencive magazine, Entrepreneur magazine and most recently was mentioned in Forbes magazine.
Mum and manager Nicole Mortimer says he has just finished a two week stint in LA meeting clients and fellow young entrepreneurs in the social media scene.
Mortimer currently has 9.9 million followers on Instagram (one of his main accounts) and deals with heavyweights in the industry such as Disney Maker Studios and Gary Vee.
The teen has positioned his social media accounts, particularly one that he has aligned to comedy content, to the point where companies reach out to get his help with their social media marketing campaigns.
The school dropout now commands an attractive income and continues to build his business.
48. ALFIE ARCURI: THE VOICE WINNER
Camden performer Alfie Arcuri shot to fame as the winner of the 2016 season of Channel 9’s The Voice.
The qualified architect was signed to Universal Music Australia and his debut studio album, Zenith, was released in July 2016 and peaked at No. 5 on the ARIA charts.
The 30 year also inspires love around the nation.
The former Elizabeth Macarthur High School student was a fierce advocate for same-sex marriage last year, releasing a marriage equality anthem called Love is Love.
Arcuri is about to embark on a nationwide tour with Samantha Jade.
49. BARRY MCCONVILLE: FORMER EDUCATOR
The inaugural principal at Eschol Park Public School, Barry McConville was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2017 for his service to the community and to education.
McConville, now in his mid-80s, was principal at Eschol Park for 10 years from 1983.
He was a principal and teacher at several public schools across NSW from 1978 to 1994.
In addition, he also worked as a teacher from 1960 to 1978. McConville was the Australian Primary Principals Association president in 1991-92 and secretary of the NSW Primary Principals Association from 1989-93.
50. BRUCE HANRAHAN: SOLICITOR
Camden’s Bruce Hanrahan has practised law in the Macarthur region for the past 36 years as well as playing an active role in the region’s business community.
His roles across the years include Campbelltown Red Shield Appeal chairman, St Gregory’s College Foundation chairman, Carrington Centennial Trust chairman, Kids of Macarthur Health Foundation chairman, Macarthur Law Society vice president, Macarthur Business Enterprise Centre chairman and Campbelltown-Camden Sustainable Regions Committee chairman.
In 2001 Hanrahan was appointed as a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) for his service to the Macarthur region, particularly through organisations promoting employment generation and job placement opportunities and to the community through a range of educational and social welfare groups.
51. PROFESSOR BRAD FRANKUM: DOCTOR
Professor Brad Frankum, an immunologist and allergy specialist, is the immediate past president of the Australian Medical Association NSW.
His term ended in May this year. As a consultant physician, he divides his time between a fractional staff specialist role at Campbelltown and Camden hospitals and his private specialist practice at Narellan.
Prof Frankum is also a conjoint Professor with Western Sydney University’s School of Medicine.
He also runs an immunology and allergy clinic at Tharawal Aboriginal Medical Service in Airds.
52. STANHAM-Macarthur family
John and Edwina Stanham-Macarthur are sixth-generation descendants of wool pioneer John Macarthur and are the historical and cultural owners of Camden Park, in its heyday the centre of a pastoral empire that stretched over thousands of hectares and was the headquarters of a family that, in shaping the colony’s economic and political direction, were among its most influential citizens.
The Macarthur name still evokes admiration across the region for what John and Elizabeth aspired and, indeed, achieved in the late 18th century: pioneers, visionary, successful against adversity and spirited.
53. ROBERT PENFOLD: JOURNALIST
Robert Penfold has never forgotten his Macarthur region heritage, despite working as a foreign correspondent for Nine News for most of his career.
Over the years, the indefatigable Penfold has covered major global events that have had a defining effect on the shape of history and the world’s way forward.
Penfold was at the forefront of reporting at events such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, the 33 miners trapped in Chile, the Gulf War, the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010 and Nelson Mandela’s march to freedom.
Penfold has won several major awards during his career, including the Thorn Award for his coverage of a deadly fire in Sydney, a Penguin award from the Television Society of Australia for his coverage of a murderous attack on mourners during an IRA funeral in Belfast, a Logie for his story on Sydney winning the bid for the Olympics and a Walkley commendation for his story about coming under fire in Iraq.
In 2006, Penfold won a Walkley Award for TV News Reporting for his coverage of the Hurricane Katrina disaster in New Orleans.
54. AMELIA FARRUGIA: SINGER
Formerly from Campbelltown, Amelia Farrugia is described as one of the brightest stars of opera in Australia.
Since her opera debut in 1994, she has sung many leading roles for Opera Australia, performed with all the ABC Orchestras and appeared internationally with a host of distinguished conductors.
Farrugia also has extended her career into musical theatre, symphony concert, recital, corporate events, large-scale outdoor events, recording and television.
55. DARRYL WRIGHT: THARAWAL ABORIGINAL CORPORATION CEO
The Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation chief executive officer, Darryl Wright has been at the helm of the Airds-based organisation, which provides medical, health and wellbeing programs to Aboriginal people in Sydney’s southwest, for 15 years.
In June, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (MA) for significant service to the indigenous community of NSW.
Wright is devoted to closing the gap, improving indigenous health outcomes and making life better for others.
Tharawal runs medical, children’s and family services, early intervention, social and emotional wellbeing and healthy lifestyles programs.
56. WAYNE BENSON/WARD HANSON: LOCAL AREA COMMANDERS
Together, Wayne Benson and Ward Hanson are responsible for policing and law and order across the Macarthur region.
Detective Superintendent Wayne Benson is the chief of the Campbelltown City Police Area Command while Superintendent Ward Hansen is the chief of Camden Police Command.
Supt Benson was awarded an Australian Police Medal in January in recognition of his distinguished 31-year career.
He is the most senior-serving Aboriginal police officer in NSW.
Supt Hanson has been in the police force since 1987 and has been a frontline officer in Campbelltown, Goulburn, Green Valley, Campsie and the Southern Highlands.
Both men headed the fundraising campaign for the two officers injured in an RBT incident earlier this year.
57. ANGUS TAYLOR: POLITICIAN
Since his electorate of Hume took in parts of the Macarthur region at the last federal election, Angus Taylor has been a familiar face to many in the community and has advocated for jobs growth and infrastructure to support the local housing boom.
The father of four entered politics at age 47 after a successful career as a management consultant.
He is currently the Minister for Law Enforcement and Cyber Security and is touted as future prime minister.
58. DR MIKE FREELANDER: POLITICIAN
The Macarthur federal Labor MP is a familiar face to many families after more than 30 years working as a paediatrician in the area.
Dr Mike Freelander has passionately campaigned for health and infrastructure improvements since he was elected to federal Parliament in 2016.
Dr Freelander completed his training at the Children’s Hospital in Camperdown and started his residency as a paediatrician at Campbelltown Hospital in 1984.
He and wife Sharon moved to the Macarthur region that same year, where they raised their six children.
In 1990 Dr Freelander took on the role of Head of Paediatrics at Campbelltown Hospital.
In his years he has worked as a paediatrician in the region, Dr Freelander has seen more than 200,000 patients.
59. RAY JAMES: RSL PRESIDENT
Mr James has been the Ingleburn RSL Sub-Branch President since 2011 and has held various positions on executive and management committees at sub-Branch, District Council and State Council levels.
He is currently the vice president Metropolitan, RSL NSW. Mr James was awarded life membership of the Returned and Services League of Australia in 2016.
60. MICHAEL DAGOSTINO: CAMPBELLTOWN ARTS CENTRE DIRECTOR
Keen to push the boundaries of people’s perceptions of art, Michael Dagostino has been Campbelltown Arts Centre’s director since 2011.
In 2017, he joined forces with artist Ben Quilty to co-curate the art exhibition, Myuran Sukumaran: Another Day in Paradise, which had its world premiere at Campbelltown Arts Centre in January of that year as part of the Sydney Festival.
The exhibition featured paintings by Sukumaran, the executed Bali 9 member.
Campbelltown Council has also applied for $30 million in State Government, Building NSW Arts and Cultural Funding to expand Campbelltown Arts Centre.