Mount Druitt Mayor - "Charlie Lowles OAM" Memmorial 13/11/2016 - RIP - All Thanks Blacktown City Council

I have met  former Council Charlie Lowles, on about  multitude of occasions, sometimes we didn't see  'eye to eye' and there was of the recent times where we shared  positive thoughts together. Although, like others I had difficulty in understanding what he said as he also spoke faster and with a rather English distinct accent, but his heart and mind was all Australian.

I'm sure that he knew every square inch of Mount Druitt and I'm am so so sure that every inch of Mount Druitt knew 'Charlie'. At his Memorial Service at Emerton Leisure Centre (heart of Mount Druitt where he  got improved facilities), it was so graceful, all politics was placed aside.  We had  great speeches from Mayor, Councilor Stephen Bali, who demonstrated how he learnt a lot from 'Charlie', NSW State Member for Mount Druitt, Hon. Edmond Atalla, who gave a passionate and brilliant explanation of how he assisted  'Charlie' with mobile phone technology.  To Charlie's daughter, who  made myself understand that his passion for  Everton Football Club and Mount Druitt Town Rangers Soccer club shared common goals and how the family allowed him to spend time within the community. That is why there was  dark blue and white flags for Emerton and  green and yellow flags representing Mount Druitt Town Rangers. This was a beautiful reflection of his football supporting life.

Then Alma his wife, who held back tears as she shared how they embraced  his life and  commitment to the Council and community. To Hon. Ed Husic, Federal Member of Chifley, who also shared the  time he had with him at  'Charlie's Office' in Plumpton Shops.

In fact most of his fellow political colleagues shared coffee at his 'office' at Plumpton.  Hon. Pru Car, NSW Member of Londonderry,  spoke to us audience as if she was speaking to him, as she stated ' She never had a chance to say goodbye to him'. There was Reg Murray,  Mount Druitt Chamber of  Commerce, whom brought his personal experience he had with 'Charlie' in removing graffiti  around the area and the process of how that was done. There was his mate and understudy Councillor Tony Bleasedale, who has a big shoe to  take over and explained how  he is saddened by the loss of 'his mate', both originally coming from Liverpool. There were other speakers that spoke from Mount Druitt Town Rangers President and representative from Rooty Hill RSL.

Really, it was a  beautiful, graceful way of  remembering 'Charlie' but the most predominate speaker I thought stood out, yesterday was,  former NSW State Member of Mount Druitt (retired 2015), Richard Amery, where he  encouraged  the audience to agree to rename the  Emerton Leisure Centre to Charlie Lowles Leisure Centre or Similar, is well thought of. Charlie made Emerton Leisure was it is  today as a true community advocate.

Personally, I wish I  could have  development a more  closer  relationship with him, as Charlie has proven to be, 'The Mayor of Mount Druitt' and the mayor of Blacktown doesn't mind that.

I wish, on behalf of the audience and the community, Council  does go ahead with Richard Amery's suggestion and that in itself is the icing on the cake to ensure our community will remember Charlie.


Rest In Peace