Jack Mundey memorial service

Helen Campbell. Glebe Society Member, Glebe Society Bulletin, April 2021

 

The State Memorial Service for Jack Mundey AO took place on Wednesday 10 March at the Sydney Town Hall. 

Bob Carr, master of ceremonies, introduced each presenter and Yvonne Weldon from the Metropolitan Aboriginal Land Council welcomed us to country.

The memorial was a fitting celebration of a man who was well ahead of his time on many issues:

• Women’s equality and rights were a passion before feminism was even an issue. Lee Rhiannon and Meredith Burgmann spoke on these subjects.
• Saving the environment around our suburbs and our state by the green bans was set up by the NSW Builders Labourers Federation. David Noonan, National Secretary of the CFMEU Construction and General Division presented an overview of Jack’s pioneering work in this area. They prevented Glebe being cut into three by two proposed expressways!

Lord Mayor Clover Moore presented a heartfelt tribute about her time working alongside Jack.

Peter Watts, Emeritus Director, Historic Houses Trust of NSW spoke of Jack’s crucial work in saving many important buildings around Sydney among which was our magnificent State Theatre.

The Trade Union Choir gave a rousing performance of the trade union anthem Solidarity Forever. Other musical interludes included Rocking the Foundations by Pat Fiske, Amazing Grace sung by Stella Zigouras, and Imagine by John Lennon.

Judy Mundey talked about her life with this very special man, giving us details of Jack’s personal life.

The gathering dispersed in a reflective mood to the sounds of Massenet’s Meditation from Thaïs.

The memorial service can be viewed on at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaJSyAbU8lc.