Page 1366 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
thousands and thousands of young Canberrans, services to young people who were at risk—not in risk but at risk—and it has kept them out from that “in risk” category. It has been the ambulance at the top of the cliff that has stopped those young people falling to the bottom of the cliff. This realignment is all about “in risk”. It is just an extension of the care and protection system and I believe that many young people will miss out and also we will find there is a diminution of service delivery. (Time expired.)
Mr Alan Fitzgerald
ACT Cricket annual presentation night
MR DOSZPOT (Brindabella) (4.16): Last Thursday, Canberra lost one of its most prominent citizens with the passing of Alan Fitzgerald. Alan’s untimely death has removed from within our midst a man who made an enormous contribution to life in the ACT since his arrival here as a young man nearly 50 years ago. He was elected to the ACT Advisory Council in 1967 and again in 1970 and stood on several occasions for election to the House of Representatives.
Alan will be best remembered for his career as a journalist, author and publisher. He contributed hundreds of articles and opinion pieces to a range of newspapers and current affairs journals and published at least a dozen books. They included Barons, Rebels and Romantics: The Fitzgeralds First Thousand Years, which was about Alan’s family history, of which he was very proud. Alan was inaugural convenor of the ACT region branch of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy, a position which he held with distinction until his death. In recent weeks, he worked hard with his ACM colleague, Gary Kent, to launch the branch’s website and, despite failing health, Alan contributed a number of opinion pieces, typically and passionately arguing in his distinctive style.
Alan’s funeral was held this afternoon at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pearce and the Latin requiem mass was conducted by Father Dominic Popplewell. I understand a large number of Canberrans attended to pay their respects. It was a fitting send-off to a much-loved Canberra citizen who will long be remembered for his commitment to this city. I wish to pass on my sincere condolences to Alan’s widow, Maria, and his two sons, Dominic and Julian.
Last Thursday, 31 March, I had the pleasure of attending ACT Cricket’s annual presentation night at Manuka Oval. I would like to congratulate President Ian McNamee, CEO Mark Vergano and chief organiser Dougal Reed on an excellent night emceed by Ben Pollack from the Raiders.
Four distinguished cricketers of long standing were honoured on the night for their 50 years contribution to cricket. They were John Gallop QC; Denis Axelby, who is well known to us here in the Assembly; Reverend Peter Nelson; and also another member of the Axelby family, Ron Axelby. I would like to say a few more words and mention many other people, but I am not quite sure how much time is available. Certainly, I would just like to reiterate the four members who between them have contributed 200 years to cricket: John Gallop, Denis Axelby, Reverend Peter Nelson and Ron Axelby deserve our heartiest congratulations.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video