Col Markham facts for kids

Colin William Markham (born 4 June 1940 – died 6 September 2020) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Labor Party. He served in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1988 to 2003. This is like being a representative in the state parliament. He represented the areas of Keira (1988–1999) and Wollongong (1999–2003). He also worked as a special helper, called a parliamentary secretary, for Aboriginal Affairs.

Early Life and Work

Colin Markham was born in Wollongong, a city in New South Wales. His parents were Vincent and Iris Markham. He went to West Wollongong Public School. Later, he attended Wollongong Junior Technical College, which is now Keira High School.

At 15, he left school and started an apprenticeship. This means he learned a trade on the job. He became an electrical fitter with the Electricity Commission of New South Wales. After his training, he worked in the Kemira mines for two years. Then, he moved to the Coalcliff mines, where he worked for 24 more years. He joined the Labor Party because of a big political event in 1975. He stayed active in his local party groups for many years.

Time in State Politics

In 1988, Colin Markham was chosen by the Labor Party to run for a new area called Keira. This happened after an older area, Corrimal, was removed. He won the election by a small amount. He was re-elected in 1991 and 1995, winning by more votes each time.

Markham became known for speaking his mind. He sometimes disagreed with his own party. For example, he spoke out about their plans for the coal industry. In 1989, he became a "Shadow Minister" for Aboriginal Affairs. This meant he was part of the opposition party's team. But when the Labor government, led by Bob Carr, won in 1995, he was not made a full minister.

Instead, Markham was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Aboriginal Affairs. In this role, he worked hard for Aboriginal issues. He helped create early laws that gave government-owned land back to its traditional owners. He also pushed for action on Aboriginal reconciliation. This led to the Carr government's Statement of Commitment in 1997. He also often spoke up for local workers. This was important as many jobs were lost in Wollongong in the 1990s.

Before the 1999 election, there were talks about him being replaced. However, he was a popular local member. So, he was chosen to run for the nearby area of Wollongong instead. He won the election for Wollongong.

After the election, he continued as Parliamentary Secretary for Aboriginal Affairs. He strongly supported Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week. These events help people understand and heal from past wrongs against Aboriginal people.

In 2002, there were more rumors that he might be replaced. This was partly because he supported unions. He refused to cross a union protest line at Parliament House. This protest was against new rules that affected workers' pay if they got injured. These rules were very unpopular in his working-class area. Many unions and local groups supported Markham.

Even with support from the Premier, Bob Carr, Markham was not chosen to run again in 2002. He decided to retire instead of running as an independent candidate. The person chosen to replace him, Noreen Hay, won the seat. Many people showed their support for Colin Markham. Tickets for his farewell dinner sold out quickly.

Community Involvement

After leaving politics, Colin Markham stayed involved in Aboriginal affairs. He was a leader and ambassador for the New South Wales Reconciliation Council. He also loved rugby league. He was a Director on the Illawarra Steelers Board. He also helped the Illawarra Steelers' Injured Player Fund.

In 2003, the University of Wollongong gave him a special award. He was named an Honorary Fellow.