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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 7 Hansard (20 June) . . Page.. 2136 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

Terry Gathercole also had a familiar name overseas. In 1968, he accepted the head coach position with the city of Midland, Texas, and was presented with a Senate resolution in recognition of his contribution to swimming in Texas. It was in his later years that Terry Gathercole had even more influence on the administration of swimming in the United States. He was instrumental in standardising swimming rules and administration, achieved nationwide recognition by serving on the American Swimming Coaches Association board of directors and later became the first non-American elected as the President of the American Swimming Coaches Association.

It was in 1986 that Terry made his way to the Australian Institute of Sport. His influence there contributed to the ongoing success of Australian swimming. His spirit will live on at the AIS and each and every swimmer, coach and administrator who was associated with him can take comfort from having known a great man who can be hailed as having the greatest influence on Australian swimming.

Terry Gathercole was loved by everyone who knew him or came in contact with him. Despite a lengthy illness and heart trouble, he was in high spirits till the day he passed on. Ironically, my office received a phone call from Terry two days before he died. He was trying to arrange a meeting with me to talk about swimming pools in our schools. He was a passionate believer in the benefits that swimming could bring to people in our community. He had some innovative plans for swimming pools. Those plans are worthy of note by whomever is in government in this Assembly because of their excellence and potential.

He had a passionate love for his sport, especially for breaststroke swimming over the other forms. I was at the memorial service for him, which was attended by the Prime Minister, other dignitaries and many swimmers from many eras, and it was fantastic to hear of the love held for Terry. You were there, Mr Speaker, and it was, I think, a humbling experience to hear of the dedication, the respect and the love for him by so many people, the joy he brought to so many lives and the assistance he had given to so many fine young Australians, many of whom had gone on to win gold at Olympic events.

It is my hope that one day we will be able to name a swimming pool after Terry Gathercole in memory of a great man, a brilliant swimmer, a clever coach, an influential administrator, an anti-drugs campaigner and, more than anything else, a great bloke. Speaking on behalf of the entire Assembly, I say to Terry's family-his wife Carol and their three children, Ben, Gai and Tim-that our thoughts are with you all. Terry Gathercole, thank you for all you have done for everyone and for Australia. You will be sorely missed.

MR STANHOPE (Leader of the Opposition): Mr Speaker, on behalf of the opposition, I join the minister for sport and the government in expressing condolence on the death of Terry Gathercole. The minister has given a very detailed summary of Terry Gathercole's swimming career. He certainly was one of Australia's earlier enduring swimming champions. As the minister has indicated, Terry Gathercole first represented Australia at the 1956 Olympic Games. He went from there to perhaps his most successful swimming competition, the 1958 Cardiff Commonwealth Games, where he won three gold medals and, I believe, two silver medals, a very significant achievement by him.

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