Page 3319 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 22 August 2012
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his integrity. His passion was infectious and he was a great inspiration to those lucky enough to work alongside him in a professional capacity—students as well as colleagues.
While the evolution of trauma systems around the country is his legacy, his influence will continue to be felt by those he taught and worked with, those he infected with his passion for his profession.
My condolences go to the staff at Canberra Hospital, who are deeply grieving the loss of a loved colleague and friend. Many of Dr McMahon’s patients will also be grieving, and there are many who owe their quality of life, and in some cases their lives, to Dr McMahon’s care.
I was fortunate enough to attend the funeral service for Dr McMahon on 30 July, at St Christopher’s in Manuka. It was an incredibly moving service, ending when a Snowy Hydro SouthCare helicopter flew over the church to honour a great man, a teacher, a surgeon, a coach, a husband and a dad, who will be missed by many.
Dr Damian McMahon
MR SESELJA (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (12.15 am): Firstly, I would like to thank the Chief Minister for putting those words on the record. I would like to briefly pay tribute to the life of Damian McMahon and join with the Chief Minister in offering my condolences to his wife, Helen, and his four sons.
I did not know Damian personally, but I do know Helen, through an association at Marist, both of us serving on the board. Helen works also for the Catholic archdiocese here and is a great servant of the community.
What struck me in attending the funeral was the great, wonderful sense of family that was portrayed there. Damian McMahon, aside from all of those other wonderful contributions he made to the community, was a great family man and will be most importantly missed as a husband and a father. I think that will be his greatest lasting legacy—not to diminish those other wonderful contributions that he made to our community.
It was an untimely death. He was far too young to leave this world—still in his early 50s. It was a shock, whilst overseas. These things do put into context just how fragile life can be. I join with the Chief Minister in offering my condolences to his family, particularly to Helen and his boys, and all of his loved ones.
Tuggeranong Netball Association
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (12.17 am): I rise tonight to honour a commitment I made to the Tuggeranong Netball Association when I said that, given the good work they had done in raising money for Bosom Buddies, I would make sure that their efforts were acknowledged and put on the record in this place. I think the easiest way to do that is simply to read out their press release:
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