Literary icon (66) and longtime leader (79) leave behind powerful legacies—tributes pour in
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Legacy is often measured by the impact left behind—whether through stories that captivate generations or leadership that shapes communities.
Two figures, each influential in their own right, have left behind remarkable contributions that will be remembered for years to come.
Their journeys were shaped by passion, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to their craft.
L.J. Smith, the beloved author behind The Vampire Diaries, passed away at the age of 66 after battling a rare autoimmune disease for over a decade.
Her partner, Julie Divola, confirmed that she died on 8 March in Walnut Creek, California.
Smith was a prolific writer who sold millions of books and penned over two dozen works throughout her career.
She had reportedly completed three unpublished books before her passing.
She made her debut in 1987 with The Night of the Solstice, which only sold around 5,000 copies but caught the attention of Alloy Entertainment.
The company developed book concepts and recruited writers to bring them to life, later selling the stories to publishers.
Smith was approached with the idea for The Vampire Diaries at a time when vampire fiction was soaring in popularity.
She published the first three books in 1991, followed by a fourth in 1992.
However, she later admitted that she had written the early books for just a few thousand dollars and had not realised she would not own the copyright or characters.
Despite the series' success, her writing career stalled in the early 2000s due to writer’s block.
During this period, she endured personal hardships, including the loss of her mother to lung cancer and her brother’s battle with Stage 4 melanoma, from which he recovered.
Her fortunes changed in the mid-2000s when vampire fiction surged in popularity again, largely due to the success of Twilight.
Sales of The Vampire Diaries soared, and Smith was re-hired by Alloy Entertainment to continue the series under a contract granting her half the royalties.
The series ultimately sold over five million copies and was adapted into an eight-season TV show on the CW Network.
In 2011, Smith was fired by Alloy Entertainment due to ‘creative differences’, a decision that deeply affected her.
Her partner, Divola, later said she was left ‘very hurt and indignant’ upon seeing ghostwritten books continue the series with her name still on the cover.
Rather than walk away, Smith took matters into her own hands by continuing her version of the series through fan fiction.
Many readers preferred her online works over the officially published books, and she became a symbol for authors reclaiming creative control.
The media later described her literary resurgence as ‘one of the strangest comebacks in literary history.’
Smith’s passing comes as Sydney mourns another dedicated public servant, former state Labor MP and Fairfield mayor Nickola ‘Nick’ Lalich, who died at 79 after a battle with throat cancer.
Lalich’s journey began in an Egyptian refugee camp in 1945, where he was born after his family fled Yugoslavia during World War II.
At the age of three, he arrived in Australia with his family, settling in Bonnyrigg in Sydney’s southwest.
His career started as an apprentice electrician, leading him to join both his union and the Labor Party, where he formed a lasting friendship with Gough Whitlam, who would become his mentor.
His dedication to public service spanned 35 years, beginning in 1987 when he was elected to Fairfield Council, where he later served as both deputy mayor and mayor.
While still mayor, he won the seat of Cabramatta in 2008 and went on to serve four terms before retiring from politics in 2023.
NSW Premier Chris Minns paid tribute to Lalich, stating: ‘His was a great Australian story.’
In his maiden parliamentary speech, Lalich reflected on his journey, saying: ‘As a migrant boy born in a refugee camp in Egypt, I could never have fathomed in my wildest dreams the prospect of becoming mayor of a city and a member of Parliament.’
Former Fairfield MP Guy Zangari described him as ‘a genuine bloke, a proud family man and a son of the Labor movement.’
‘Nick will always be remembered as the tall, strong and immaculately dressed man that had a heart bigger than Phar Lap,’ Zangari added.
Mount Druitt MP Edmond Atalla expressed his grief, saying: ‘Life will feel a little emptier without Nick, but I’ll hold onto the memories we shared so generously.’
Federal Labor MP Linda Burney praised Lalich’s legacy, saying: ‘His was a true Labor story—a migrant, electrician and union member who brought a deep passion for “the fair go” to high office.’
She added: ‘I know his community and former parliamentary colleagues will miss him dearly.’
Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone also extended his condolences to Lalich’s loved ones, as did state Cabramatta MP Tri Vo, who recognised the lasting impact of his predecessor.
‘He came from humble beginnings but has left a vast and lasting impact on our local area,’ Vo said.
‘Nick was a warm person and well-liked by many in the Cabramatta community. I had the privilege of working with him, and I am grateful for the lessons I’ve learnt and memories we shared.’
Lalich is survived by his son Paul, daughter Kerrie, grandchildren and his partner Del Bennett, who also served as a Fairfield councillor.
Both L.J. Smith and Nick Lalich left behind powerful legacies in their fields—one in storytelling and the other in public service.
Which of their contributions do you think had the greatest impact? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Two figures, each influential in their own right, have left behind remarkable contributions that will be remembered for years to come.
Their journeys were shaped by passion, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to their craft.
L.J. Smith, the beloved author behind The Vampire Diaries, passed away at the age of 66 after battling a rare autoimmune disease for over a decade.
Her partner, Julie Divola, confirmed that she died on 8 March in Walnut Creek, California.
Smith was a prolific writer who sold millions of books and penned over two dozen works throughout her career.
The Vampire Diaries author L.J. Smith dies at 66. Image source: Simon & Schuster
She had reportedly completed three unpublished books before her passing.
She made her debut in 1987 with The Night of the Solstice, which only sold around 5,000 copies but caught the attention of Alloy Entertainment.
The company developed book concepts and recruited writers to bring them to life, later selling the stories to publishers.
Smith was approached with the idea for The Vampire Diaries at a time when vampire fiction was soaring in popularity.
She published the first three books in 1991, followed by a fourth in 1992.
However, she later admitted that she had written the early books for just a few thousand dollars and had not realised she would not own the copyright or characters.
Despite the series' success, her writing career stalled in the early 2000s due to writer’s block.
During this period, she endured personal hardships, including the loss of her mother to lung cancer and her brother’s battle with Stage 4 melanoma, from which he recovered.
Her fortunes changed in the mid-2000s when vampire fiction surged in popularity again, largely due to the success of Twilight.
Sales of The Vampire Diaries soared, and Smith was re-hired by Alloy Entertainment to continue the series under a contract granting her half the royalties.
The series ultimately sold over five million copies and was adapted into an eight-season TV show on the CW Network.
In 2011, Smith was fired by Alloy Entertainment due to ‘creative differences’, a decision that deeply affected her.
Her partner, Divola, later said she was left ‘very hurt and indignant’ upon seeing ghostwritten books continue the series with her name still on the cover.
Rather than walk away, Smith took matters into her own hands by continuing her version of the series through fan fiction.
Many readers preferred her online works over the officially published books, and she became a symbol for authors reclaiming creative control.
The media later described her literary resurgence as ‘one of the strangest comebacks in literary history.’
Smith’s passing comes as Sydney mourns another dedicated public servant, former state Labor MP and Fairfield mayor Nickola ‘Nick’ Lalich, who died at 79 after a battle with throat cancer.
Lalich’s journey began in an Egyptian refugee camp in 1945, where he was born after his family fled Yugoslavia during World War II.
At the age of three, he arrived in Australia with his family, settling in Bonnyrigg in Sydney’s southwest.
Former Fairfield mayor Nick Lalich dies at 79. Image source: Facebook/Linda Burney
His career started as an apprentice electrician, leading him to join both his union and the Labor Party, where he formed a lasting friendship with Gough Whitlam, who would become his mentor.
His dedication to public service spanned 35 years, beginning in 1987 when he was elected to Fairfield Council, where he later served as both deputy mayor and mayor.
While still mayor, he won the seat of Cabramatta in 2008 and went on to serve four terms before retiring from politics in 2023.
NSW Premier Chris Minns paid tribute to Lalich, stating: ‘His was a great Australian story.’
In his maiden parliamentary speech, Lalich reflected on his journey, saying: ‘As a migrant boy born in a refugee camp in Egypt, I could never have fathomed in my wildest dreams the prospect of becoming mayor of a city and a member of Parliament.’
Former Fairfield MP Guy Zangari described him as ‘a genuine bloke, a proud family man and a son of the Labor movement.’
‘Nick will always be remembered as the tall, strong and immaculately dressed man that had a heart bigger than Phar Lap,’ Zangari added.
Mount Druitt MP Edmond Atalla expressed his grief, saying: ‘Life will feel a little emptier without Nick, but I’ll hold onto the memories we shared so generously.’
Federal Labor MP Linda Burney praised Lalich’s legacy, saying: ‘His was a true Labor story—a migrant, electrician and union member who brought a deep passion for “the fair go” to high office.’
She added: ‘I know his community and former parliamentary colleagues will miss him dearly.’
Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone also extended his condolences to Lalich’s loved ones, as did state Cabramatta MP Tri Vo, who recognised the lasting impact of his predecessor.
‘He came from humble beginnings but has left a vast and lasting impact on our local area,’ Vo said.
‘Nick was a warm person and well-liked by many in the Cabramatta community. I had the privilege of working with him, and I am grateful for the lessons I’ve learnt and memories we shared.’
Lalich is survived by his son Paul, daughter Kerrie, grandchildren and his partner Del Bennett, who also served as a Fairfield councillor.
Both L.J. Smith and Nick Lalich left behind powerful legacies in their fields—one in storytelling and the other in public service.
Which of their contributions do you think had the greatest impact? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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huh
and I did have a lot of gay friends in tassie, and my best workers were gay. So I guess I do.
