Page 1927 - Week 06 - Thursday, 5 May 2005
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celebrated its 90th birthday on 28 April 2005. I will take pleasure in sponsoring an event that WILPF is holding in the reception room next Tuesday afternoon.
Owen Finegan
Human rights
Blue Devils soccer team
Rugby union
Rugby league
MR STEFANIAK (Ginninderra) (6.11): Whilst on matters sporting, I would like to note—and I hope I will be joined by my colleagues in the Assembly—that Owen Finegan, or Melon as he is affectionately known, is leaving the Brumbies. His last home game with the Brumbies will be on Saturday. He is going to the United Kingdom to play there.
He is an original member of the Brumbies and he has had a remarkable career. He has scored 29 tries in his appearances in Super 12. He is going to leave some big boots to fill because he is about 197 centimetres tall and weighs in at 117 kilos. He captained the Brumbies in their historic win over the Canterbury Crusaders last year. He has given absolutely sterling service to the Brumbies, ACT rugby and Australian rugby during his time.
Who will forget, in 1999, the second try the Wallabies got in the final against the French—Melon’s try when he went from about 20 metres at the back of a lineout onto a George Gregan pass and just literally bulldozed his way through, did the old Maori sidestep through about three or four French defenders and scored and put the game beyond doubt.
Being the absolutely versatile, splendid and talented forward that he is, I have no doubt that he will kick a field goal in his last game. I would certainly like to see him get a couple of those remarkable bulldozing tries that he has become so famous for. In fact, Justin Harrison, I recall, had never kicked a goal but converted a try and kicked about a 45-metre penalty goal in his last game with the Brumbies, before he went off and played with those other strange people in Sydney.
Melon will, hopefully, have an excellent last home game in Canberra. But I think we should all thank him and wish him well and particularly thank him for his great contribution to the Brumbies in particular but also to Australian rugby as this is his last season.
On a couple of other points: I would have to disagree with Mary Porter in relation to the Human Rights Act. I have actually referred about four people, with just ordinary, everyday sorts of rights problems, to the Human Rights Office, which has been unable to help them. So I just wonder how effective it is really going to be in terms of just looking after the ordinary person.
Mr Quinlan: A bit hypocritical of you, Bill, really.
MR STEFANIAK: You have to use it if you can, Ted. But I have been a bit disappointed that they have not been able to help them. So I just reiterate everything
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