Top 100 Most Influential people: Macarthur region part VI
THE Macarthur region’s most-anticipated countdown of the year is here, as we reveal FINAL instalment of 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
- TOP 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PART IV: From Jody Scott to Brett Emerton
- TOP 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PART V: From James Tedesco to Peter Meadows
THE final instalment of the list which has stopped the Macarthur region, the Macarthur Chronicle Top 100 Most Influential, is here.
With influential names from politics to sports, from medicine to business, from household names to unsung heroes, these 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
79. MAT MLADIN: MOTORSPORTS CHAMPION
The motorcycle racer retired in 2009 with a string of records that he still holds.
He won the AMA Superbike series title seven times (no other rider has won more than four), and holds series records for wins (83, breaking Miguel Duhamel’s previous record of 27), poles (50) and poles in a season (10).
Following his retirement Mladin returned to the Macarthur region to live.
80. JIM MARSDEN: SOLICITOR
Jim Marsden is the senior partner of Marsdens Law Group and has been in that position for more than 10 years. Brother John started Marsdens Law Group in 1968 and Jim joined him in 1973.
Jim has spent the bulk of his professional career involved in Property and Commercial Law.
He developed both Marsdens Property Group and Marsdens Commercial Group and still continues to play an active role in both of these departments.
Marsdens main office is in Campbelltown and there are offices in Camden, Oran Park and Liverpool.
There are currently 14 partners and a total workforce of about 160.
Over the years Jim Marsden has been involved in many charitable, civic and sporting organisations.
81. ANTHONY MORRISSEY: BUSINESS OWNER
The managing director of family business Nepean Distributors, Anthony Morrissey has led the charge in the Macarthur region for the crushing success of the Return and Earn refund scheme.
The home of the first automatic sorting container machine, Morrissey has spread the word throughout the region’s schools and sporting clubs, encouraging hundreds of thousands of containers to be recycled.
82. ANDREW AND JESS SIMPSON: ORBITAL ACTION GROUP
Husband and wife duo Andrew and Jess Simpson have became the unlikely faces of the community’s horror earlier this year, after a proposed eight-lane Outer Sydney Orbital threatened to destroy rural communities on the outskirts of Camden.
The small business owners united the community’s anger into a Facebook group and after countless hours of research and advocacy, has helped achieve a small victory of a 10km tunnel.
83. TOMMY BROWNE: BOXER
Bradbury boxer Tommy ‘the Titan’ Browne has enjoyed a 16-year professional boxing career, from winning world titles at Campbelltown Sports Stadium to fighting Anthony Mundine. Browne, a youth worker at Revesby Detention Centre, has long volunteered his time with primary schools in the region, inspiring youth to be active.
84. JOHN FAIRLEY: COUNTRY VALLEY FARMER
Sixth-generation dairy farmer John Fairley is a chief influencer in the region, as a co-owner of the award-winning Country Valley dairy farm at Picton.
Building consistent awareness of the impacts of drought on the region’s suffering farmers, Fairley’s farm produces about 100,000 litres of milk product for families across the Sydney and Canberra regions.
85. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR ANDREW MCDONALD: DOCTOR, FORMER POLITICIAN
An advocate for improved health services in the Macarthur area, the Campbelltown Hospital paediatrician also served as the Macquarie Fields state Labor MP for two terms from 2007-15.
Associate Professor McDonald was the parliamentary secretary for health from 2008-11 and the NSW Opposition Health spokesman from 2011-14.
During this time he continued to work pro-Bono one day a week as a clinician and teacher.
He joined the Department of Paediatrics at Western Sydney University’s School of Medicine in 2015 as an Associate Professor in Paediatrics.
He continues to work at Campbelltown Hospital and Tharawal Aboriginal medical service. He has worked at Tharawal since 1995.
85. DAVID FUNNEL: VOLUNTEER
Living in Camden for more than 72 years, David Funnell represents all things Camden. He has been honoured as Camden’s Citizen of the Year on two occasions, most recently this year.
The former councillor (1977-80 and 2004-12) has been a driving force in bringing Camden into the modern era while maintaining the region’s iconic heritage.
Now retired, Funnel is currently on the Camden Town Farm, Camden Men’s Shed and Bicentennial Equestrian Park committee.
86. BRIAN LAUL: COMMUNITY LEADER
Brian Laul has played an active role for the Campbelltown community as host of Good Morning Macarthur, Macarthur Multicultural Children’s Festival chairman and owner of Oz Funland.
Mr Laul has played a key role in bringing together the Campbelltown community.
87. DEBORAH EDWARDS: OLYMPIAN
Edwards was Campbelltown’s first Olympian, competing in the 100m hurdles at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
She didn’t progress beyond the heats stage, but she opened the door to other aspiring Olympians from the Macarthur region.
88. MURRAY KEAR: FORMER NSW STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE (SES) COMMISSIONER
Glen Alpine resident Murray Kear was appointed as the Director General of the NSW State Emergency Service in November 2008.
The title was changed to commissioner in 2009.
As Commissioner, Murray was responsible for all services and functions of the NSW SES, including leading the state’s approach and response to floods, storms and tsunami.
Prior to his appointment he served for 28 years with Fire and Rescue NSW, the last six as assistant commissioner.
In that role Kear was responsible for leading and establishing excellence in the areas of Community Engagement, Fire Prevention and Operational Performance.
As a result of his contribution and leadership in Fire and Rescue NSW, he was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal on Australia Day 2006, the highest honour a firefighter in Australia can receive.
89. GERALDINE DEAN: YOUTH SOLUTIONS CEO
The chief executive officer of Youth Solutions and mum of two, Geraldine Dean is a passionate community worker.
She leads the Campbelltown-based charity which aims to make a difference to the lives of young people in the Macarthur and Wingecarribee regions and to prevent or reduce alcohol or drug-related harm to youth.
Dean was named Campbelltown’s Local Woman of the Year in 2016.
90. SARAH WALSH: SPORTS STAR
Sarah Walsh represented Australia at the 2004 Olympics, 2006 AFC Women’s Asian Cup and the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
She also captained for the Western Sydney Wanderers in the W-League and played in the US competition. She was the first female football commentator for Fox Sports.
91. FRED FISHER: FISHER’S GHOST
On June 17, 1826 Frederick Fisher, left his home in Campbelltown and was never seen again. Almost four months later, farmer John Farley stumbled into a local hotel in a state of shock and claimed he had seen the ghost of Fisher.
The ghost, according to Farley, had been sitting on the rail of a bridge, pointed to a paddock down the creek, then faded away. The body of Fred Fisher was later discovered by police in the paddock where the ghost had pointed.
The Campbelltown community has long been fascinated by the tale of Fisher’s Ghost.
Each year the community celebrates the Festival of Fisher’s Ghost with the highlight being a spectacular parade on Queen St.
The annual parade is Australia’s longest running street event and has firmly put Campbelltown in the national spotlight, thanks to a ghost.
92. ZAC MIHAJLOVIC: BATMOBILE MAN
Cobbitty’s Zac Mihajlovic is the region’s “super” hero, with the all-round good guy cruising around the region with his spectacular replica of the Batmobile.
Mihajlovic, known about town as the “Caped Crusader” brings smiles wherever he goes with his generosity.
He offers his wheels, the only roadworthy Batmobile in Australia, to local charities and also provides surprise birthday rides for children.
Mihajlovic also spends his free time dressing as the masked vigilante to cheer up terminally ill children.
93. MARK BINSKIN: FORMER CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE FORCE
Born in Campbelltown and educated at Campbelltown Public School and Hurlstone Agricultural High School, Air Chief Marshall Mark Binskin has been Chief of the Defence Force since June 2014.
He is set to retire this month. Air Chief Marshal Binskin AC is former senior officer in the Royal Australian Air Force.
He also has served as Chief of air force and Vice Chief of the Defence Force. Air Chief Marshall Binskin is also a board director for the 2018 Invictus Games.
94. DR LEANNE CRAZE: MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE
Leanne Craze has dedicated her career to improving the lives of people with mental illness, and she was honoured as a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2017.
The Glen Alpine resident founded Craze Lateral Solutions in 1991, where she works as a mental health and social policy consultant.
She says her aim is to improve the daily lives of people with mental illness.
She also was involved in the Human Rights Commission Mental Health Inquiry.
Dr Craze was a board member of the NSW Mental Health Association from 2013 to 2016.
95. SHARON ROBERTSON: COMMUNITY ADVOCATE
A professional photographer based in The Oaks, Sharon Robertson is also the self-appointed driver of all that is amazing in a country town community.
She is among the organisers of the Dilly Drought Drive, a group of Wollondilly shire people fundraising to support local farmers.
Robertson also helped bring Christmas cheer to the region as the organiser of the long-running The Oaks Christmas Night.
She is also the person behind the Macarthur Storm Chasers Facebook page which has 15,000 likes.
96. ANNE STANLEY: POLITICIAN
Anne Stanley has lived in the federal seat of Werriwa all her life and understands the challenges of life in southwestern Sydney.
She served as a councillor on Liverpool Council from 2008-2016 before moving into federal politics in 2016.
Stanley believes in building on the work of previous members, from Gough Whitlam to Laurie Ferguson, who were committed to making Werriwa a better place to live now and a better place for children.
She has served our community as a volunteer and held executive positions in preschool parent associations and sporting groups.
97. TIA BRENNEN: CHARITY FOUNDER
The Minto schoolgirl and charity founder, Tia Brennen, was crowned the NSW Young Volunteer of the Year in December in recognition of her community work and desire to help others.
When she was just nine, the Minto Public School student set up Tell Tia for Charity to collect abandoned bikes so they can be restored and given back to children who couldn’t otherwise a bike.
Two years later, she has restored more than 320 bikes and distributed them to youngsters in the community.
Tia is a committed volunteer who also helps feed the homeless at local shelters, runs a toy drive for struggling families, delivers flowers to nursing homes, creates care packs for people in refuges and makes her own lip balm to raise money for the PCYC.
98. JUDY HANNAN/LUKE JOHNSON: WOLLONDILLY MAYOR/GENERAL MANAGER
Mayor Judy Hannan and general manager Luke Johnson head the 2560sq km periurban local government area in Sydney’s far southwest reaches.
The council’s brief is: “To create opportunities in partnership with the community and to enhance quality of life and the environment, by managing growth and providing sustainable services and facilities.”
At present, Cr Hannan, councillors and staff are looking for an equitable balance between the rush of developers to the shire and the desire to keep development at a sustainable level.
99. JAI ROWELL: POLITICIAN
Wollondilly state Liberal MP Jai Rowell was elected to the seat in the 2011 election, claiming the seat from the then Water Minister Phil Costa.
In 2014 Premier Mike Baird appointed Rowell the Minister for Mental Health and Assistant Minister for Health. Under Gladys Berejiklian, Rowell has been appointed a Special Advisor to the Premier and the NSW Government on Science, Industry and Innovation.
Rowell cut his teeth in local government, serving as a Campbeltown councillor for six years.
He will step down at the next state election to focus on his family, but he will leave behind a legacy of strong community representation and a wealth of infrastructure in the region that he successfully lobbied for funding.
100. TIGER ANDERSON: VOLUNTEER
The Campbelltown Citizen of the Year in 2011, Tiger Anderson is one of the region’s quietest treasurers.
After a bad back forced him into early retirement, Anderson became a self-appointed “guardian angel” to the region’s sick, frail and elderly.
Paul Mitchell, from United Taekwondo, lobbied to ensure Anderson was included on the region’s most influential list.
“Tiger spends about 25 hours per week/50 weeks per year visiting 400 people per week and has been doing this for 25 years = 500,000 visits. He is just an amazing person and a role model for myself.” Mitchell said.
Anderson regularly visits seven hospitals and aged care facilities, from Glenfield to Thirlmere, adding some joy into people’s days.
He also makes himself available to take people shopping or to appointments.