Reverend the Hon. FRED NILE [10.09 p.m.]: Tonight I honour the life, witness and memory of an outstanding faithful Aboriginal leader, Pastor Francis Bundock, who passed away last Friday and whose funeral will be conducted on Friday 26 October. Pastor Francis Bundock and his wife, Lola—formerly Lola Williams—have been long-time friends of my wife, Elaine, and me. Pastor Francis Bundock died last week while being operated upon for serious kidney failure. The operation lasted for eight hours during which time his vital organs closed down and he passed away—so he was absent from his body but present with his Lord, Jesus Christ, whom he had faithfully served all his life.

Pastor Francis was a spiritual leader of the full blood Muli Muli Aboriginal community, a town located near the town of Woodenbong north of Kyogle. In many ways he was also the unofficial mayor of that community. Muli Muli Aboriginal village, which comprises approximately 200 adults and a large number of children, is unique. In 1983 I was first invited to visit their community where Mr Williams, senior elder of the village, welcomed me. Francis' father was a former spiritual leader of a church that is located in the centre of the village. I was invited to the village, which was an honour as it was my first meeting with the Muli Muli people, and I slept in the village for a few nights. Muli Muli is a model Christian Aboriginal village and a model community. The grass is always mowed and there are no car wrecks, garbage or alcohol. It is a dry village and it also discourages cigarette smoking. Its adults, teenagers and children are healthy and strong and they are model citizens.

In the late 1980s, when I visited the village with my wife, Elaine, we were treated like visiting royalty. A reception was arranged in the hall. The tables were covered with starched white tablecloths and there was plenty of food. We were very impressed with the whole community. The community was recently granted Aboriginal land rights over the forest area, which includes Muli Muli village and encompasses some of the land across the Queensland border. I am pleased that the community now has the land security that it deserves. The village has not always been a model village. The Christian message was delivered over 100 years ago and last year I was invited to share the village's 100th anniversary celebrations. In the 1970s there was a moral decline and alcohol was rampant in the community.

When I visited the village in 1983 I was shown pillars of beer cans at the back of the village that served to remind villagers of their previous decline or backsliding. Under the influence of alcohol villagers fought and burned down houses and they burned their large community hall. Almighty God, with his love and patience, sent his blessing upon that village, a revival took place, and villagers once again became Christians. Francis Bundock's family, the Williams family and the Green family played a positive role in developing this community, which has modern brick homes that were built by young Aboriginal apprentices. In 1988 the Muli Muli people conducted a mission to New South Wales, for which I praise God. I was pleased to be able to travel with them in a bus convoy, to visit about 30 Aboriginal reserves across New South Wales, and to speak in many white churches.

The people who met those villagers were greatly impressed as they were accustomed to seeing Aborigines drunk and lying in gutters in towns or in town parks. They could not believe it when these fine Aboriginal Christian men and women took part in church services in major centres such as Lismore. The Muli Muli ladies choir sang at those services and the Christian message was faithfully delivered. It is an honour to have known Pastor Francis Bundock. I am certain he will now be hearing the words, "Well done thou good and faithful servant." May God bless his wife, his family and the Muli Muli community.