Tributes flow from family and friends for Ali Sultan
FAMILY, friends and Tasmania’s business community gathered to celebrate the life and achievements of “Hobart’s greatest champion” Ali Sultan following his unexpected passing last month.
The 73-year-old died after a heart attack while walking on one of his favourite landmarks, kunanyi/Mt Wellington.
Mr Sultan’s family hosted a public memorial service on Friday at Wrest Point Casino to honour his life, achievements and contributions. In delivering his eulogy, his son Moe described his father as a man of “immeasurable self confidence and belief in his abilities” who invested not just in property, but also people.
“My dad, your friend, your colleague, your confidante, loved kunanyi/Mt Wellington and he loved his adopted city Hobart, passionately,” he said.
“If anyone should have held the number one supporter’s ticket as Hobart’s greatest champion, it would have been Ali.”
He said his father’s exact date of birth was not known and growing up he had been a terrible student, who preferred to work over study.
He arrived in Sydney in 1969. He met his Tasmanian wife and they moved to Hobart in 1973 before taking over a milk bar in Claremont.
Master of Ceremonies and Hobart personality David Noonan said he would always remember his friend’s incredible presence, exuberance and zest for life.
He recalled an important day in his life which Mr Sultan played a key role in, after being lured to the top of Mr Sultan’s Market Place Car Park development.
“I felt a tap on my shoulder and I look around, Ali was arm-in-arm with my now wife Zenep – Ali comes over, grabs me and looks me in the eyes and says ‘David there’s something you don’t know about me – I’m a celebrant’,” Mr Noonan said.
“I looked around and thought how has this happened – I’ve come to my own wedding and I didn’t even know it.
“He had an incredible sense of humour and was willing to be part of this prank. The rest is history, we’re still together, so it worked.”
Premier Peter Gutwein described Mr Sultan as a man who never forgot his humble beginnings, dreamt big and delivered big.
“It’s people like Ali Sultan that start from nothing, but through hard work and enterprise best illustrate what this small island at the bottom of the world is all about,” he said.
Former premier Lara Giddings remembered him as a visionary, energetic and a true gentleman.
“I heard of his frustrations and disappointments and there were a few setbacks for him … but I never heard him say a bad word about anyone,” she said.