NT matriarch opens office

THE matriarch of the Fong Lim family has opened the newest NT electoral office named in honour of her family.

Norma Fong Lim was surrounded by four of her daughters as she cut the ribbon for the newest parliamentary electoral office at the Winnellie shops for inaugural member of the electorate, Dave Tollner.

Mrs Fong Lim, 80, the widow of the late Darwin Lord Mayor Alec Fong Lim told the Northern Territory News it was a great honour to have the electorate named after the family.

"My dearest wish was that Alec would be alive," she said. "It means (the Territory) has come a long way. (Alec) would be gobsmacked - he would be laughing and joking with everyone."

Federal Shadow Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Tony Abbott, climbed on an Esky to MC the opening.

"What makes Australia special is that we are a great cosmopolitan country," he said, "The Fong Lims are a model of the Australian dream."

Mr Tollner paid homage to the Fong Lim family and added that it was a great honour to be the inaugural member for the electorate.
NT News

Wow this is amazing, I learn something new.. most days anyway.  Alec Fong Lim was the first Chinese Australian Lord Mayor of Darwin and was awarded the Order of Australia medal in 1986 for services to the community and local government.  A man-made lake was named in his honour, Lake Alexander. See plaque below.

The Fong Lim electorate "is located in the suburban corridor between Darwin and Palmerston. It takes in the suburbs of Bayview, Woolner and The Narrows, and parts of Coconut Grove and Ludmilla. The district also includes Darwin Airport."  It was first contested in the 2008 election.