Tuesday, 30 August 2022

 Ms GREEN (Yan Yean) (15:34): On 21 August the lights of Mernda and Doreen shone a little less brightly when my beautiful friend Mary Simpson took her last breath, aged 80. Mary was the youngest old lady that I have ever known. She was funny, cheeky, kind and thoughtful. She lived her own values but did not harshly judge the values of others. I feel privileged to have shared so many of Mary’s recent milestones. In June at Loyola College she and her devoted life partner, Val, celebrated 60 years of marriage. My husband, Michael, and I were delighted to see this still totally besotted couple recommit their marriage vows before Father Terry Bergin. They also joined me here at Parliament for a celebratory lunch.

At this year’s annual Yan Yean International Women’s Day dinner in March I was able to thank Mary for her devotion to our community over many decades. In December I joined Mary’s family for her 80th birthday party. Son Sean and his family opened their Doreen home to Mary’s many fans, daughter Terri, grandchildren, cousins, sister Kevine and many friends.

Mary was so proud of her husband, Val, especially when he was awarded an OAM for services to policing and to local government. She often spoke of Val’s time in local government as a Diamond Valley councillor and as a pallbearer for Victoria’s first female minister, Pauline Toner. Val and Mary moved back to the northern suburbs from the Bellarine Peninsula before the 2014 election. They approached me at my street stall in Mernda, and we had been firm friends ever since. They were integral to my last two campaigns. Mary’s humour and cheekiness got me through many difficult days in those times. I have often said that I want to be Mary when I grow up. (Time expired)