Page 2476 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 23 August 1994
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Lindsay's commitment was shown through his involvement in over 30 different community groups and committees. This includes being the Aboriginal youth community representative on the first Chief Minister's Youth Advisory Council, time spent as both the vice-president and the president of the University of Canberra Student Association, as national co-secretary for the committee on student initiatives in community health management, as national convener of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander working party formed by the National Union of Students, and as Aboriginal community adviser to the ABC Advisory Council. At the same time, Lindsay completed his science degree with majors in nursing and human biology, and a postgraduate diploma in public policy, before being awarded a Harkness scholarship to study the human rights of indigenous people at Harvard University.
Through his travels, Lindsay developed strong links with people throughout the world and acted as an ambassador for the ACT and for Australia. He was able to present his culture to others in an innovative way, transcending the barriers between people of various backgrounds. Lindsay was a deeply caring individual, and he will be fondly remembered in the hearts and minds of all who knew him. I know, Madam Speaker, that I speak for all members of the Assembly when I extend our condolences to Lindsay's family. He is survived by his wife, Ms Rebecca Stratton-Croft; his parents, Ms Dorothy Croft and Mr Joe Croft; his sister, Brenda; and his brother, Timothy.
MR KAINE: Madam Speaker, I have to say that when I met Lindsay Croft for the first time I was impressed. He was a young man who stood tall; he was intelligent; he was articulate; he was self-confident; and he seemed to be at ease in any company. Every time I saw him afterwards, those first impressions became stronger. He was clearly a young man who was comfortable with himself, who knew who he was and where he wanted to go. He was a young man who was a great credit to his family, to his people and particularly to his special friend and guide - his father, Joe. Lindsay, although not born in Canberra, was a product of Canberra. His education started at Flynn Primary School. He went on to St Francis Xavier High School, then to Daramalan, before going on to what is now the University of Canberra. So I think that we can genuinely claim him as a product of Canberra.
As a student, Lindsay very quickly established himself as a person with a strong mind, building on the characteristics that I had first seen in him. He identified the issues which he thought were important in life and he set about doing something about them. That focused on youth and it focused on his Aboriginal people. In his short life, I think he achieved a great deal. In furtherance of his ambitions in his chosen field and to broaden his life's experience, he was successful in going to the United States to study at Harvard under a Harkness scholarship - again a significant achievement for one so young.
Unfortunately, the promise that was so obvious has failed to be realised. But we cannot say that Lindsay is lost to this community. He will be remembered as an example of what young men can achieve, and I think that he will stand for a long time as a role model which other young men and young women in our community can follow. His tragic death is a grievous loss to his family, to the Aboriginal community and to the broader community of Canberra. It is with a great sense of sadness that I join with Rosemary Follett to support this motion of condolence.
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