Parliamentary Speeches
Death Of The Honourable Donald Day, A Former Member Of The Legislative Assembly And A Former Minister Of The Crown ( 23/06/2010)
Mr DONALD PAGE (Ballina) [11.12 a.m.]: Even though Don Day retired from this Chamber four years before I was elected to it, I join with other members in supporting this condolence motion as the member for Ballina and also as the shadow Minister for the North Coast because Don Day made a significant contribution to the North Coast of New South Wales. I offer my condolences to the family of the Hon. Don Day, former member for Casino, and later Clarence, and one of the great characters of the Labor Party and the New South Wales Parliament from 1971 to 1984. To his wife, Marie, and his children, Jenny, Bill and Sue, and, indeed, all members of his family, some of whom are present in the gallery today, please accept my sympathy on the passing of Don Day.
Don Day was a well-known identity on the far North Coast and was regarded for his passion for the region, particularly for its rural industries. Don Day was a returned serviceman, joining the Army at 17 and then transferring to the Royal Australian Air Force to become a Catalina pilot during World War II. When Don returned to the North Coast with his wife, Marie, by his side he became the proprietor of Maclean Motors, a Ford dealership in Maclean. In his spare time he was occupied with raising his three children as well as maintaining interests in dairy farming and the sugar industry. He also operated a small Brahman stud.
Don ran for the seat of Casino in 1971, wresting it from the Country Party, as we have heard, with a 17.6 per cent swing. One of the Country Party candidates at that election was Charles Yabsley, whom I knew well. In fact, he seconded my endorsement when I first sought preselection for the National Party. Charles Yabsley was an honourable and good man, and was very popular. For Don Day to beat Charles Yabsley was quite an achievement. Don held the seat until 1984, at one time having 60 per cent of the primary vote in the Maclean area. During his time in Parliament Don held numerous portfolios, including Agriculture, Primary Industries, Decentralisation and Industrial Development.
Don Day will be remembered for many achievements, many of which have been outlined by previous speakers in this condolence motion. One achievement was his commitment to the New South Wales sugar industry. He has been credited with saving the local industry when, in the late 1970s, CSR announced that it wanted to close the mills at Harwood, Broadwater and Condong. Don Day fought for their survival, a move that led to the formation of the NSW Sugar Milling Co-operative. Don Day also was a champion of the dairy industry in northern New South Wales. As the Minister for Agriculture in the Wran Government, he abolished the bulk milk quotas as a way of, to use his words, "elevating the dignity and prosperity of the family farm."
We heard in detail from the Minister and the member for Mount Druitt about Don's contribution to the dairy industry. His son, Bill Day, who, ironically, later ran for the seat of Clarence as a Liberal candidate, says his father also fought hard for the timber industry, campaigning against the establishment of national parks at Washpool and Terania Creek near the Channon. Don Day loved is community and was passionate about the North Coast of New South Wales. He will be remembered as a politician who spoke his mind and supported rural industries and the towns and people who depended on them.
As the shadow Minister for the North Coast, I wanted to recognise his achievements, particularly those relating to the North Coast of New South Wales. On a lighter note, even 26 years after he left this Chamber I am introduced sometimes as Don Day, not Don Page. Of course, I take this as a compliment. Don Day was a good State member of Parliament who always tried to act in the best interests of the people he represented. His family should be very proud of him. He served our nation in wartime and in peacetime, and he was highly respected on the North Coast and across the State. Again, I offer my condolences to his wife, Marie, his children, Jenny, Bill and Sue, and the whole family.
