Colin Tatz praised in the NSW Parliament
Shadow Treasurer Walt Secord has paid tribute to the late-Prof Colin Tatz in the NSW State Parliament telling the chamber that Colin was a pioneer in genocide and Aboriginal studies.
Colin Tatz
Mr Secord who is also deputy chair of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel and deputy chair of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Armenia spoke in the adjournment debate on November 21 and it was the last speech in the NSW Parliament for 2019.
In his speech he said: “Professor Tatz was warm, giving and a kind educator. In short, he was a humanitarian,” Mr Secord said.
“I first encountered Professor Tatz in 1988 when I was a young journalist at The Australian Jewish News.
Born in Johannesburg, Professor Tatz hated the apartheid system in South Africa and was an unwavering supporter of the recognition of the Armenian genocide, taking principled stands on many occasions.
Professor Tatz fought racism and repeatedly warned of the consequences of the failure to confront and combat racism.”
Prof Tatz was also the founding director of the Centre for Comparative Genocide Studies and served as a professor at the University of New England in Armidale as well as at Macquarie University. He leaves behind more than 25 books on a diverse range of subjects, including apartheid, the Shoah, Aboriginal history, migration and sports history.
He added: “Professor Tatz will be missed by the Armenian, Jewish, Kurdish and Assyrian communities, First Nation peoples and other communities that were devastated by genocide.”
Mr Secord also cited statements from the Armenian National Committee of Australia, the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, who all formally paid tribute to the passing of Professor Tatz.
