A beachside memorial service at Thirroul was held on Friday for Laurie Kelly, a long-serving Illawarra MP, and his wife Rhonda
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Mr Kelly died in July this year, aged 88, after contracting pneumonia earlier this month.
Mrs Kelly passed away in February this year.
Mr Kelly had worked for the Illawarra community through serving as the state member for Corrimal for a record seven terms.
He was first elected in 1968 and held the seat until his retirement in 1988.
During much of that time Mr Kelly was Speaker in the Legislative Assembly.
He served in that role from May 1976 until April 1988.
Outside of the parliament, Mr Kelly was also the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Wollongong.
He took up the role of chairman for the Illawarra Disabled Persons Trust.
There was a strong sporting streak too; he was chair of the Wollongong City Soccer Club, President and Life Member Illawarra Branch Surf Life Saving Club and Patron of the Illawarra Rugby League Football Club.
A memorial service was held on Friday at the Thirroul Surf Club.
Afterwards, a surf boat took Laurie and Rhonda’s ashes past the waves and scattered them over the waters.
Cunningham MP praised the work Mr Kelly and his wife Rhonda did for the Labor Party.
“Laurie and Rhonda remained active within the Party until they moved to Queensland,” Ms Bird said.
“Party members regularly enjoyed their company and listening to all of their old stories. They were a lovely couple who everyone took great pleasure in catching up with.
“Laurie epitomised local members who were connected to their community and cared about people who needed help.
“He set an example for all of us who followed him of service to community.”
Wollongong MP Paul Scully called Mr Kelly a “giant of the Labor party.
“Laurie and Rhonda were both incredibly dedicated servants of their community,” Mr Scully said.
"They were proud of Wollongong, worked to get a better deal for Wollongong and the region should be proud that he served our city with such distinction for many years in different capacities.
“He was a giant of the Labor party locally and within NSW and both her and Rhonda will be missed by their Labor family.”
Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
