Community Recognition Statement

Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields): Dr Peter Benson lived a long and rich life.

The lifetime Ingleburn resident and proud Old Boy of Hurlstone Agricultural High School passed away at the ripe old age of 97.

Dr Benson attended Hurlstone Agricultural High School from 1938 to 1942.

A prominent local dentist, Dr Benson would count former Prime Minister of Australia Gough Whitlam as both a patient and friend.

Dr Benson was Ingleburn Horticultural Society's Vice President for many years. His own garden was both his passion and his retreat.

Intelligent and compassionate, Dr Benson was intrigued in how the mind can assist the body in pain management.

He wrote a thesis on hypnosis which is in the rare book section of Sydney University's Fisher Library.

Dr Benson was passionate about heritage and a fierce defender of the Hurlstone Farm.

He strongly opposed plans by the Liberal Government to sell off the farm for housing and his advocacy helped retain the school at its rightful home in Glenfield.

Our community will be forever grateful for Dr Benson's enormous contributions, and we will miss him greatly.

Rest in peace.