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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 2 Hansard (25 February) . . Page.. 351 ..
MR STEFANIAK (Minister for Education and Training): Mr Speaker, I move:
That the Assembly expresses its deep regret at the death of Mr Norman Fisher, AM, who made a significant contribution to Canberra, especially in relation to the development and growth of the Canberra Institute of Technology, and tenders its profound sympathy to his wife and family in their bereavement.
Mr Speaker, I am greatly saddened today to be in the position of moving this motion of condolence on the death of Norm Fisher. Norm died suddenly in Melbourne on Wednesday of last week, just as he and his wife, Maureen, were about to embark on a holiday to New Zealand - something they were looking forward to very much. Indeed, Maureen's mother was going out of the country, for her first time, with Norm and Maureen. Norm had severe pains. His wife took him to the doctor in a taxi. Unfortunately, after an operation, he passed away. I offer sincere condolences to Maureen, to his sons - Stephen, Craig and Rohan - and to his family and colleagues.
Mr Speaker, Norm Fisher was a gregarious, good natured and very likeable person. His energetic approach to life and work was legendary, and his enthusiasm was inspiring to so many of those who came into contact with him. His commitment to the task at hand was complete. He never did things by halves.
As members will remember, Norm Fisher retired in October last year, after a very long and distinguished career in the Public Service. He started his Public Service career in the State Electricity Commission of Victoria in 1952. The Public Service then was a very different place from the service that Norm left at the time of his retirement. His career of 45 years was marked by the tremendous capacity he had to go beyond mere adaptation to change. Norm anticipated change. He harnessed it to make it work for him towards his own purposes and those of the organisations in which he worked.
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