With the passing of former Campbelltown Mayor Paul Hawker earlier this week, the city has lost one of its favourite sons. Mr Hawker lost a long battle with brain cancer that he fought with typical optimism and courage right to the very end.
A funeral service at St Peters Anglican Church, Campbelltown on the 31st of March at 11.30am will be live-streamed, and followed by a public reception at Campbelltown Arts Centre.
Paying him tribute in Parliament, Campbelltown MP Greg Warren remarked that Mr Hawker was passionate about what we needed in our area, and he remained as such.
“When Paul arrived on council, he helped secure Campbelltown’s push to become a regional city and did a great job,” Mr Warren said.
“He helped facilitate upgrades at Macarthur Square to the tune of $240 million—a fantastic place that has done so much. He also supported and worked hard for amenity improvements at various parks, including Glenfield, Ruse, Macquarie Fields, Kentlyn and St Helens Park.”
Mr Hawker spent 12 years on Campbelltown Council after first being elected in 2004 and also served as Mayor from 2015-2016 before ultimately retiring from council.
A Vietnam War veteran, Mr Hawker was involved with many local organisations including the Rotary Club of Campbelltown and United Hospital Auxiliary Campbelltown Branch.
“When Paul first went to Vietnam he was Lance Corporal Paul Wayne Hawker, Service No. 1202380, from 17 May 1970 to 1 June 1971, a total of 381 days in the very proud 2nd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment,” Mr Warren said.
Mr Warren pointed out that whether it was in service to his country or his community, Mr Hawker always put everyone else first.
“On behalf of Campbelltown I offer my deepest sympathies to his darling and lovely wife, Sigrid, his children, Aaron and Daryl, and his grandchildren. We, as a city, are lesser without him,” Mr Warren said.
