Labor party members, supporters, members of parliament, unionists and party officials gathered at the Royal Hotel Wyong on Saturday, March 23, to celebrate the 100th year of the Wyong ALP Branch.
The branch was established in 1924 following the introduction of compulsory voting.
Over 100 years the Wyong branch has campaigned strongly on local issues, including in more recent years against the proposal for a new long wall coal mine in the water catchment and to keep Wyong Public Hospital in community hands.
The branch has campaigned to elect State Labor Governments from the Lang Government in 1925 to the Minns Labor government one year ago, supporting the election of Member for The Entrance David Mehan and Member for Wyong David Harris.
The branch has also played a key role in the election of federal Labor governments, including the first Federal Member for Dobell Michael Lee in 1984.
A former Minister, Lee cited the establishment of a multi sector campus – co-locating the University of Newcastle, TAFE NSW and the Community College – as the most significant achievement of his long parliamentary career.
The branch continues to campaign on local issues with a focus on access to healthcare, education and training and local infrastructure.
It also continues to have strong representation in State and Federal Parliaments.
Federal Member for Dobell Emma McBride joined the Wyong branch in 1992 and State Member for Wyong David Harris joined the branch in 1993, after being a member of the ALP since 1987.
“I’m proud to have joined Wyong Branch in 1992 and still have my original membership card today,” McBride said.
“Wyong Branch has a long tradition of standing up for locals and putting a spotlight on local issues, including the long fight against the Wallarah 2 coal mine and successful community campaign to keep Wyong Hospital in community hands.”
Harris said he had been a proud member of the Wyong Branch for 31 years
“When I joined it provided a great opportunity to interact with local, state and federal members of Parliament, from whom I learnt a lot,” he said.
“I also learnt and became passionate about local issues, providing a pathway to represent the Wyong community.”
For more information about the Wyong NSW Labor Branch, email branchwyong02alp@gmail.com