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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 2 Hansard (19 May) . . Page.. 293 ..

MR WOOD (continuing):

It is now a sadness for his family that they have been denied the time to relax in his company in his retirement; they now rely on their wonderful memories of their time with him. His faith, his devotion to them over a long period - all those good memories will now sustain them in the time of mourning. It is our hope, too, that our support and our condolences, expressed here today, offer further comfort to them. We all liked and respected Alex. We will all miss him.

MS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Treasurer): Mr Speaker, I am sure that it was with great sadness that everybody here learnt of the recent death of Alex Fyfe. I think that sadness is more profound as members recall the last sitting of this Assembly when we all bade farewell to Alex and wished him a long and happy retirement. Sadly, Alex died suddenly only two weeks after leaving the service of the Assembly.

I rise here today to pay tribute to a man whose life was truly remarkable. He had a varied career from which he brought a rich tapestry of skills and life experience to seven exemplary years of service in the ACT Assembly. He was born in Glasgow. Alex was one of four children. He entered the work force at a young age. As a teenager, he took his first job as a steward on P&O liners. It was in this job that Alex came to Australia and decided to settle here. Alex must have been an enthusiastic advocate for Australia because, by 1952, his whole family had migrated to Melbourne.

We have heard from Mr Wood about Alex's wonderful service to the Victoria Police and, of course, to the Papua and New Guinea Constabulary as well. Alex also, I understand, owned a fairly large hotel in Monto in Queensland at one stage. In 1976 he returned to the police force when he joined the Australian Federal Police and moved to Canberra. He made an important contribution to our community, and I understand he was instrumental in establishing Neighbourhood Watch in the ACT.

Alex joined the Legislative Assembly in February 1991 and had been the Principal Attendant until his retirement at the last sitting. I am sure that everyone would agree, as Mr Wood has already said, that Alex did his job diligently and with great professionalism. He worked hard and achieved the smooth running and security in this place that happened without our even noticing it. That is, I think, the note of a true professional. He certainly managed to make this place a much better and more enjoyable place to work in.

He is survived by his wife, his children and his grandchildren. It is wonderful to see them here today, Mr Speaker. I am sure that all members will join with me in expressing our deep sympathy to Alex's family and friends and in acknowledging his remarkable life and his sterling service to the Legislative Assembly.

MR STEFANIAK (Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, I knew Alex Fyfe for many years. I first met him in 1982. I was honoured when his wife, Erlie, asked me to say a few words at the funeral yesterday. I first met Alex Fyfe in another capacity, when he was a member of the Australian Federal Police. In July 1982 he was posted to the AFP Legal Division as a senior sergeant. I worked with him on a regular, almost daily at times, basis when I was a prosecutor until he left that branch in March 1984 and moved on, as the Chief Minister has said, amongst other things, to form Neighbourhood Watch

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