Page 3190 - Week 10 - Thursday, 25 September 2014
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trying to find recruits for the team from both this side of the Assembly and the other side. Kurt was one of the ones that put his hand up and played for the team. That is probably far better than if Andrew Barr or I had put our hand up, to be honest. That was just an expression of how he was able to put his political battles to the side and join in for the greater team. I have had conversations with Mr Doszpot and, with the family’s blessing, Mr Doszpot has suggested that the annual match in future be named after Kurt, as the Kurt Steel Cup. With the family’s blessing, I know that that is something that Mr Doszpot would like to do as an expression of the respect of all of us for Kurt.
It is very tragic when someone is taken so young, particularly someone with so much potential. I know that Kurt has received many tributes. It is unusual for someone of his age to have received so many tributes across the political divide from so many esteemed leaders in our community. I know that there are very few words that I can express today that really will provide any comfort. I wish they could. I know that there is a struggle to find meaning. As you said, Andrew, it is difficult in these circumstances for any of us to find meaning.
From my perspective, something that Kurt’s untimely passing has shown all of us—and it is something that Kurt always showed—is that our humanity, our common humanity, is much greater than the ideology that separates us. What Kurt has done today is shown that as Canberrans, as Australians, as humans, we are far more united than divided.
MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo): I would like to thank Mr Barr for providing this opportunity for us to reflect on and say a few words about Kurt Steel in the Assembly today. There is no doubt that the loss of someone close to us is hard. In this building, against the backdrop of the political teams we all work for and support, there are relationships that are built across party lines. They are both the casual, friendly conversations and the work conversations that happen each day as we try and deliver on the work that needs to be done.
There is respect, admiration and even affection and good humour between many of us, irrespective of which political team we support. In the Assembly we understand the pressures and share many of the pleasures from working in this place. Across the years and the different issues we come into contact with many people, both in MLA offices and in the secretariat. It is in that context that the loss of someone like Kurt, a cheerful and bright young man who was well respected and well liked across the Assembly, is keenly felt.
Kurt, who worked as a media adviser in the Deputy Chief Minister’s office, was an accomplished and driven young man who achieved a lot in his short years. He worked hard and seemed to thrive on the challenges that working in a political office presented. But he also seemed to make time for fun and friendships and was clearly a well-known and popular person across the community. He had cheerful enthusiasm for life which was infectious. All of these character traits were wonderfully shared at the memorial service last Friday through the various stories that people told during that wonderful service.
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