Nick Lalich (1945-2025) Oral History

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DescriptionThis interview consists of four audio recordings and transcripts. Nick Lalich was interviewed on 22 January 2003 at the Whitlam Library, Cabramatta by Shirley Kingsford McLeod.
Interview SummaryNick (Nickola) Lalich and his family came to Australia as refugees from Serbia in the former Yugoslavia. Nick was born in Egypt on 22 May 1945, at the end of World War II. His parents were Serbians but had lived in Croatia until the German invasion in 1944. They escaped via Italy and were sent to a refugee camp in Cairo, where Nick was born. Sadly, three other children in the family died after contracting the measles.

They arrived at the Port of Melbourne on board the ‘Busta Victory’ and were sent straight to Bonegilla where they remained in a migrant camp for about 8 months. As a refugee, Nick’s father was obliged to work for the Commonwealth Government for two years and was placed in Regents Park, NSW, to work for the Water Board. He later purchased 11 acres of land in Bonnyrigg and started a farm, growing vegetables and raising poultry. The Lalichs’ first home in Australia was at Austral where they lived in an old corrugated iron shed with a dirt floor, which, Nick tells us, his mother used to sweep. There was no electricity and his mother cooked on a fuel stove and washed in a fuel copper.

Nick’s primary schooling was at Austral, St Johns Park and Granville Public School, he then attended Liverpool Boys’ High. Like his older brother, he completed an apprenticeship after high school and worked as an electrician.He got married at the Wayside Chapel in Kings Cross with the Reverend Ted Noffs officiating. He and his wife, who was a New Zealander. Initially lived in a little cottage behind his parents’ house before buying their own home. They have two children, Paul and Kerry, who are both solicitors.

Nick’s political career started in the 1970s when he joined the local Labor Party, first at the Liverpool Branch and later the Mt Pritchard Branch. He agreed to run for Alderman of Fairfield City Council and was elected as Mayor in 1993 -1994. He would became Mayor again in 2002-2003 and was re-elected in 2004 when he became Fairfield City’s first popularly elected Mayor. Nick Lalich held the position until 2012.

In 2008 he was elected as State Member for Cabramatta replacing Reba Meagher when she resigned. For four years he was filling both roles, that of Mayor of Fairfield and also of State Member for Cabramatta.

Nick’s interview also deals at length with the murder of former Labor member John Newman who became State Member for Cabramatta in 1986 and who was assassinated during his term in that capacity.

Nick Lalich passed away 26 March 2025.

Details

IntervieweeNick LalichFull/other names, TitlesNickola Lalich, MPInterviewerShirley Kingsford McLeodDate of interview22/01/2003DurationTotal interview: 01:43:07Transcripts availableYesRightsFairfield City CouncilAccess ConditionsAccess open for research, written permission required for personal copies and public useExternal LinkParliament of NSW

Connections

Oral History ProjectThe Way We Were - People of FairfieldCollectionAll Oral HistoriesMayors and Councillors - Oral histories

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