Former NSW Labor MP and champion of the Illawarra labour movement, Colin Markham, has died in Wollongong aged 80.
Mr Markham held the seat of Keira from 1988 to 1989 before moving to the adjoining seat of Wollongong from 1999 till 2003.
Wollongong MP Paul Scully told State Parliament in June this year Mr Markham was motivated to enter politics after hearing of the sacking of Gough Whitlam.
"He was walking up the driveway after coming home from work in a coal mine and his wife, Melissa, yelled out from the balcony 'Gough's been sacked', [and] Colin responded 'we'd better join the Labor Party then'," Mr Scully said.
During his time in government he fought for working people, said the current Member for Keira, Ryan Park.
"For me, he will be known as someone who just worked really hard for working people. That was his simple focus," Mr Park said.
"He was a fearless, tireless advocate."
Remembered as 'uncle' in Indigenous community
Mr Markham campaigned strongly on Indigenous issues, rising to the position of parliamentary secretary for Aboriginal Affairs in two terms of the Carr Labor Government.
After leaving parliament, he went on hold various positions on the NSW Reconciliation Council, including deputy chairperson.
"He was, right until the end, regarded as an uncle in the local Aboriginal community," said Federal Seat of Whitlam MP Stephen Jones.
"His passion for working people never faltered — whether it was a picket line, a protest, Mayday. Colin and Melissa were always there."
"We are going to miss him dearly, he was a great human being."
He was never backwards in coming forward, said Federal Seat of Cunningham and Labor MP Sharon Bird.
"The one thing you could say about Col is he never left any regrets behind. If he had a view about something, to those of us who followed him into parliament he certainly wasn't backward in letting us know," she said.
Sometimes this involved him turning on his own party, as when he lost the seat of Wollongong in a bitter pre-selection to Noreen Hay, who went on to become a right faction powerbroker in the party.
He later accused her of manipulating branch memberships and correspondence to her own advantage, but none of the allegations against her were proven.
Colin Markham was awarded a Labor Party Life Membership in 2017.
He is survived by his wife Melissa and three sons Wayne, David, and John.
Arrangements are being made for his funeral.
