Reverend Fred Nile marries Silvana Nero - says his late wife Elaine would have approved
Alicia Wood Political Reporter
The Daily Telegraph
December 16,2013
IT was NSW parliament's answer to the royal wedding - complete with a diamond tiara.
Silvana Nero, 55, wore the jewel-encrusted headpiece and a floor-length gown as she married controversial MP the Reverend Fred Nile, 79, yesterday.
The best man was Liberal hard-right faction boss David Clarke while Treasurer Mike Baird, Attorney-General Greg Smith, Roads Minister Duncan Gay, new Energy Minister Anthony Roberts, former Energy minister Chris Hartcher and Labor MPs Walt Secord and Luke Foley were in the pews at St Thomas' Anglican Church North Sydney.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott sent a letter saying he hoped it was one of the couple's "happiest days".
"Marriage is about walking the same path together. It is a profound, rich and fulfilling journey that should draw out the better angels of our nature," Mr Abbott wrote.
Reverend Simon Manchester opened the wedding service by acknowledging Mr Nile's children - whose support for the union was crucial for the couple - and their mother, the late Elaine Nile, who died in 2011. "Elaine, even at the close of her life, was encouraging Fred to remarry,'' the reverend said.
The couple joined friends and family outside the church. At the gates there was another, smaller crowd including Viva La Bang, in a high blonde wig and bridal gown, and partner Brae Michaels, who were protesting against Mr Nile's stance against gay marriage.
Why the Progressives and the "Gay Community" and their Media apologists Hate Fred
"He made comments that we have divided Australian politics and degraded Australian politics for the last 10 years and we're here to show him we should have the same rights as everybody else," La Bang said.