Page 2996 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 17 October 2007
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fact that he was an organiser and conscience of the left ensured that he never mustered the numbers to enter the ministry.
His involvement in the East Timor issue began with two visits to the island in 1975, the first as a member of the ALP delegation in March. Subsequently he addressed three international bodies on this issue: the UN Security Council in April 1976, the international conference on East Timor in Lisbon in May 1979 and the Permanent Peoples Tribunal hearing on East Timor in Lisbon in 1981.
Ken retired from politics in 1984 but not from life. He published at the age of 82 his memoirs, A Humble Backbencher. Pragmatic to the end, Ken said, when his daughter asked if he would like an email read at his funeral: “You can say what you like. I won’t give a stuff then.” Ken continued to be involved in Canberra affairs, coming up from the coast, and I saw him on a number of occasions. He always had a great interest in public housing and I think the last time I saw him was actually at a Christmas party at the ABC flats where we both attended a concert. He was a man true to his principles to the end and a great Canberran. On behalf of the Liberal Party, I extend my condolences to Ken Fry’s family and his many friends.
MR BERRY (Ginninderra): Ken and Audrey Fry have made a lasting impression on Canberra and on many, many Canberrans. Ken’s father was a very committed democratic socialist and was in the first intake of students to the Hawkesbury Agricultural College in 1890. Following in his father’s footsteps, Ken not only attended the Hawkesbury Agricultural College in 1938 but also carried on his political commitment. Ken was also a Second World War veteran, serving in the Army and the Air Force both in Australia and overseas.
Ken’s activities as a member of the ACT Advisory Council between 1970 and 1974 and his time as the first member for Fraser from 1974 to 1984 are well known and well documented and, indeed, legendary among many. He became a respected local member who was always open to all, and his dedication and commitment to principled causes are legendary. Ken was a loyal friend and a mentor to many. He has a special place in the history of Canberra. He will be missed by many. Many in the community will remember Ken—and Marvin Charchalis who worked in his office—who made a strong commitment to serving the people of the ACT as the inaugural member for Fraser.
History will record his good work over many years for the people of East Timor, from his visit in 1975 to his appeal to the United Nations Security Council, to his work with East Timorese here in Australia in the period from 1975 up to East Timor’s independence. But many other communities remember his work with them, including the many Central and South American communities who always found Ken a ready listener and an indefatigable activist. It is interesting to note that the Ambassador for East Timor was at Ken’s funeral on Monday and it was good to see the recognition for Ken of all the hard work that he did for the East Timorese cause. Without Ken I think it could be said that the successes that were later achieved in relation to East Timor would not have occurred.
Of course, politicians do not succeed without the support of their family, and Ken’s family have been a rock-solid support for him over many years. His wife, Audrey, of
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