New South Wales has lost a dedicated public servant, Nick Lalich.
Born in an Egyptian refugee camp after his family fled Yugoslavia during World War Two, Nick migrated to Australia when he was three, before growing up in Bonnyrigg.
His was a great Australian story.
Nick attended Liverpool Boys High School, became an apprentice electrician, joined his union and the Australian Labor Party, where he got to know the local member, Gough Whitlam, who would become his friend and mentor.
After working for many years in his trade, Nick was first elected to Fairfield Council in 1987.
Over the next thirty-five years, he served his community with a sense of passion, loyalty, and a deep belief in the fair go.
Nick served as Deputy Mayor of Fairfield, the Mayor of Fairfield, and then finally as the Member for Cabramatta until 2023.
Throughout his career, he was always conscious of the opportunities offered by life in Australia.
As he told the NSW Parliament in his inaugural speech:
'As a migrant boy born in a refugee camp in Egypt, I could never have fathomed in my wildest dreams the prospect of becoming mayor of a city and a member of Parliament.'
Our thoughts are with Nick's family and loved ones at this time.
