Resident questions authenticity of Bennelong Labor candidate Dr Brian Owler’s letter

The Labor Party has defended a letter sent from a patient on behalf of its Bennelong candidate after a resident questioned its authenticity.

Marilla Dann with Dr Brian Owler's letter.

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The Labor Party has defended a letter sent from a patient of behalf of its Bennelong candidate after a resident questioned its authenticity.

The letter from Beecroft’s Becky Li and her husband Alex Chau endorsed brain surgeon Dr Brian Owler, who saved their daughter Chloe’s life after she had brain surgery from the age of five.

“We were terrified, but it is because of Dr Owler that our daughter is a happy, healthy child and she is never afraid to go to hospital for treatment,’’ the letter said.

Marilla Dann was offended by a letter sent to residents. Picture: Troy Snook

“Over three years of Chloe’s surgery and radiation treatments, Dr Owler never hid the difficult choices. He gave us options and clearly supported our whole family.”

However, North Ryde resident Marilla Dann was furious and labelled the endorsement “fear mongering” to highlight sick children for politics.

“I’m a survivor of cancer using that as an excuse or people to read further really irks me,’’ she said.

Ms Dann thinks the letter writers do not exist.

Dr Brian Owler's letter to residents was also written for the Asian community.

“This election has brought out the worst in people.”

She also doubted the couple existed.

“It’s a blatant lie that it’s from a neighbour,’’ she said.

“I just think it’s a total lie.”

Dr Brian Owler is a successful neurosurgeon. Picture: Kym Smith

Ms Dann, who said her mother-in-law underwent successful back surgery with Dr Owler, raised concerns because she did not doubt the former Australian Medical Association president’s ability as a surgeon but said that did not have anything to do with his political ability.

A Labor campaign spokeswoman said the family was real and “any suggestion to the contrary is utterly false”.

“This family is brave for putting themselves forward and telling their story — and it is a sad reflection on politics today that the first reaction from some people is to assume that they are fake or lying.

“It’s disappointing to see that the Northern District Times has chosen to elevate these views — it diminishes the very real contribution made by this family to our democratic process.”