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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-08-29 Daily Xml
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McEwen, Mr M.

Ms THOMPSON (Davenport) (15:41): It is with great sadness that I rise to speak on the passing of a much-loved man in our community, Mark McEwen, loving husband of Josie, father of Kate and Christopher and their partners, Remi and Jireh, and cherished and committed grandpa to Amiria and Catalina. It is still difficult for me to believe that we have lost Mark. He was such a good man and a friend to so many. One of Mark's mates, Jim Phillips, described his friend as a loyal, humble man, honest, trusted, hardworking, committed, enthusiastic and supportive to all. 'You could not have a better man on your side,' he said.

Mark has been a long-time member of the Labor Party and was recently elected to the position of vice-president of the Devonport sub-branch. I am yet to meet a more passionate and dedicated member of the ALP. Whilst I had the pleasure of knowing Mark for only a few years, many party and union members knew him for his efforts in this space dating back to the mid-seventies. Many who have seen Mark in action or who have been lucky enough to have volunteered alongside him will tell you that many of the party wins over the years were greatly assisted by Mark. His contribution was exemplary in a number of ways.

One of his mates, John McTier, described him as being just the right fellow when required. He made phone calls, doorknocked, letterboxed, corfluted, wobble boarded, worked on polling booths and scrutineered. Some also knew Mark for his incredible signwriting abilities, which he offered up to help promote many election candidates over the years.

He was a dedicated unionist, working on many campaigns for the movement, including the Your Rights at Work campaign, the campaign against WorkChoices, the Change the Rules campaign, Australia Deserves a Pay Rise campaign, the Hands Off Medicare campaign and Save the ABC campaign.

In 2020, Mark was instrumental in revitalising the Retired Unionists of South Australia together with his dear mates Jim Phillips and Gordon Penhall. Their network of retired comrades has met monthly ever since and added their support to numerous campaigns and rallies, but especially the campaign for constitutional recognition and a voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. I remember seeing Mark on North Terrace when many South Australians came together to watch the passing of the bill for a First Nations Voice to the South Australian parliament. He was so proud to have been part of history that day, and I am very glad that he was.

But, of course, Mark was not just committed to the Labor Party and the union movement. He was just as well known for being a loving family man. He was committed to Josie and their two kids and he adored his granddaughters, frequently joking about how much energy they had but how seeing them was the best part of this week.

Mark was an all round top bloke and a good friend. I extend my heartfelt condolences to Mark's family, his extended family, his many friends and the wider community who will miss him very much. In our hearts you will always stay, loved and remembered every day. Vale, Mark McEwen.

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