Page 370 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 15 February 2005
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helped cement the bonds between Charlie and his partner, Pam, who met through their work in CAA.
Later I met Charlie again as he worked with Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation. That famous sea of hands owes a lot to him. However, most Canberrans and other members of the Assembly will have met him in his work at ACTCOSS. Here is what Sandra Lilburn, the other deputy director there, had to say about Charlie:
Joining ACTCOSS in October 2001, Charlie Pahlman soon took on the role of Deputy Director (Sector Development) and in this position strengthened the capacity of the organisation to actively support community development in the ACT. Charlie established a distinctive profile as a community facilitator within the sector and worked tirelessly as an advocate for community determined action. His unflagging belief that each community should determine their own future was an inspiration to all who had the chance to work with Charlie. Through his work Charlie Pahlman was able to translate his belief into practice and provide many groups and community based organisations with the resources and skills they needed to set and achieve their future goals.
Through his leadership, the ACTCOSS Sector Development team has helped many organisations in the ACT to translate their passion and commitment into a clearly formulated organisational plan and map out a sustainable future. One of Charlie’s greatest legacies can be seen in the numerous groups and community based projects that have reached their potential and thrived under his friendly guidance.
As Deputy Director at ACTCOSS, Charlie’s commitment to the ACT community was demonstrated by his efforts to regenerate the Community Development Network … his particular dedication to organisations in the mental health and HACC sectors, and his facilitation work for the Indigenous Housing Forum. His broader interests and activism served to extend his effectiveness in his work at ACTCOSS and gain him respect in the ACT community sector.
And then, in December 2003, we were both preselected to be the Greens lead candidates for Molonglo. If ever there was a case for the way Greens do politics differently, our 2004 election campaign was the exemplar. Politics is by its nature competitive—but Charlie and I worked as a team, putting collegiality and cooperation before politics. The process was as important as the outcome for both of us, dyed in the methods of community development as we both were. We acknowledged each other everywhere, we met weekly, then daily, we gave out each other’s material, we rang each other up and we attended community meetings, car-pooling as friends do.
When I went into hospital with a sudden illness, Charlie sent me a huge bunch of flowers and rang to check on my progress. I grew so much through this campaign and I am a better member for having seen how Charlie’s smile could light up the world and move people to seek the best outcomes.
Charlie’s family and friends have set up a web site where people may read and add their tributes to Charlie’s life. You will find it at www.charlie.pahlman.com. From the many tributes, I have taken one which describes the way Charlie worked, from someone who knew him well: as my closing word, it is Charlie’s lesson for us all, because a life like his must not be allowed to end; it must continue in our work and our relationships with others.
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