Ms JODIE HARRISON (Charlestown—Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors, and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault) (18:51): After a lifetime of contributing to our local community, Mercia Buck has another very special milestone on the agenda this month. That is celebrating her ninetieth birthday. Mercia has been a tireless champion of the performing arts, helping establish Warners Bay Theatre and founding the Lake Macquarie Music Society, Opera Hunter and Lake Macquarie Eisteddfod. She also served as a Lake Macquarie City councillor from 1991 to 2008. I succeeded Mercia as a Labor North Ward councillor and thank her for her advice, guidance and support. A Medal of the Order of Australia recipient and Freeman of the City, Mercia has given so much to Lake Macquarie. I wish her a wonderful ninetieth birthday and thank her for everything she has given our community.

A Community Recognition Notice is an opportunity for an MP to submit a short statement praising the work of an individual or group in the local community. If you have any ideas about people I can recognise with a Community Recognition Notice, please email and let me know!