Today in Parliament, Abigail passed a condolence motion honouring Marcia Chapman who dedicated over 30 years of her life to Jenny's Place, supporting women and children affected by domestic and family violence and poverty.
Abigail said:
I move:
(1) That this House notes with sadness the passing of Marcia Chapman, who dedicated her life to helping women and children escape violence and was a tireless and passionate advocate for ending gendered violence.
(2) That this House further notes that:
- Marcia joined Jenny’s Place, the first women’s refuge in the Hunter and Newcastle area, in 1989 as a caseworker and spent more than three decades at the refuge supporting women and children impacted by domestic and family violence, homelessness and poverty,
- Marcia was unanimously voted to lead Jenny’s Place during an organisation restructure in 2015, and she continued serving the refuge in a management capacity until her retirement in May 2024,
- the NSW Legislative Council recognised Marcia’s work by unanimously passing a motion commending her tireless advocacy and passionate service on 16 May 2024,
- Marcia’s decades of dedication helped Jenny’s Place grow to support over a thousand women and children every year through crisis and transitional accommodation, casework, outreach and counselling, and
- Marcia has been described by friends, colleagues and those who were supported by her at Jenny’s Place as a passionate and dedicated changemaker, and her legacy will no doubt live on in the future work of Jenny’s Place.
(3) That this House acknowledges Marcia’s profound and lasting impact on the lives of women and children experiencing domestic violence and all those who knew her, and expresses its deepest condolences to her family and friends.
Motion agreed to.