Private Members’ Statement
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields) (12:34): Today I speak about my former council colleague and dear friend the late Alfred Joseph Borg, or Fred, as everyone in the Macarthur region called him. I, like many others, was most saddened leading up to Christmas last year to hear that my good mate and neighbour who lived up the street had passed away suddenly from a heart attack and kidney failure. It is actually his birthday today and he would have been 74.
Fred was a man who loved his community and his community loved him very much in return. He was a passionate advocate for our area and he never held back when it came to speaking up for our area, whether it was the major upgrade to Appin Road, the fight against mine subsidence or his strongest legacy, the 24 Hour Fight Against Cancer charity, which has raised millions to improve cancer health services for our area. Fred was there leading from the front. He was and still is, despite his passing, a remarkable community advocate who touched many lives.
The list of those who have spoken about Fred and his community and professional accomplishments is long—not surprising for a man who had worked so hard for our community over so many decades. Today I want to talk about Fred on a more personal level. To me he was much more than a colleague or a passionate community advocate. He was someone who, when he gave his word, always kept it and when I spoke in confidence to him gave me his trust. Fred was my friend. Despite his being more than 30 years my senior our age difference meant little in our friendship, which was based on honesty, mutual respect, trust and genuine enjoyment of each other's company. There was not one issue that I could not talk to Fred about, whether it was personal or professional.
Very few things gave me greater joy than to see Fred happy in his life. I clearly remember that when he told me he had met someone special in his life he was like a teenager in love as he spoke very fondly of Maria, whom he married early last year. On his wedding day his smile was worth a million dollars and like many married men he was punching above his weight. I was happy because my friend Fred was happy. In addition to marrying Maria the other thing that made Fred happy was going down to his little camper in South Durras. He told me the story of going to South Durras as a youngster with his family and that he had been back there each and every year. Every day he would go out to catch bream or morwong and at night he would go prawning on Durras Lakes.
Being in South Durras and being able to fish—out in his little camper and wearing his fishing hat—was Fred's little piece of heaven on earth. I can also attest that the best fish and chips I have ever had was Fred's morning catch that day. It was simply cooked with a bit of lemon and salt in the special batter he carried in his plastic bag. It was pan-fried over a metal plate on his gas cooktop just outside his camper. Undoubtedly, though, what added most to the taste of the meal was the laughter, the conversation and the level of affection and generosity that Fred showed Anna and me on our trip. It was a trip to South Durras that I can never have again, but it is also a trip that I will never forget.
Fred doted on me like a family member despite our different pasts, and I will always treasure the times he gave me a lift home from our council meetings. His Camry was always full of stuff and had paraphernalia all over the floor. We would chew the fat as we drove home together—he lived just up the road from me. I will miss not being able to walk up the street and knock on Fred's door to see how he is doing. I will miss not seeing him in his fishing hat or raising money in his 24 Hour Fight Against Cancer shirt. I will just miss my friend.
