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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 9 Hansard (26 August) . . Page.. 3220 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

Some 14 years ago when my own mother, who was also a resident of Curtin, died, Vince sent down trays of sandwiches and cakes. That was the sort of guy he was. He certainly did not ever ask for anything back. He gave continually. I think it was that hallmark of great service that earned him the title of king of Curtin.

Most people knew him as Vince. I do not think too many knew his surname was Kalokerinos. But most people would not have known that his real name was Valerius. For all of the folk who have ever been to the Curtin milk bar and spoken to Vince, his Christian name was Valerius, but, in the Australian way, in 1962 people probably could not say that and they called him Vince.

I would just like to bring to the attention of the Assembly and have on the record in this place my gratitude and thanks to Vince, a man of great generosity, great kindness, great humour, great service and great milkshakes. I think that Curtin will be a much poorer place for his passing. I certainly know that I will miss him as a friend.

For all those young Curtin residents who had their first job with Vince-and I know many of them, including a couple of members of my own family-he taught them about service and he taught them about courtesy but, more than anything, he taught them about family, because the thing that was central to Vince's life was his love of his family, that is, his normal family and his extended family, which probably would be half of the Woden Valley.

Farewell, Vince. Good luck. We will remember you for all times.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

The Assembly adjourned at 5.42 pm.

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