Page 4215 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 24 October 2017
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There are few things Steve loves more than football and salami, but one of these is his family, because Steve is a man of family. His wife, Maureen, has been his greatest champion, and I know he would not be where he is today without her love and support. I know how proud Steve is of Maureen and his kids, Adam and Amy, and their grandchildren and what a close family they are. Steve’s love and loyalty for family extends to his Canberra Liberals family. I know he cannot lay claim to being the oldest member last term, during Val Jeffery’s time here, but Steve was certainly the father of the party room and was always a big brother to me.
Steve, your humour and cheek, your heart and passion, your dedication and community spirit are some of the things we will miss most about not having you just down the corridor. You leave this Assembly a better place than when you entered it, and that is all we can ask of anyone who pledges a duty to public office. You leave this Assembly with so many more friends than you will know, and that is all we can ask of anyone who lives such a full life. Thank you for your support, your friendship and your service to the bright-eyed newbie fellow candidate, to the Canberra Liberals and to the broader Canberra community. Thank you and farewell, big brother.
MR PARTON (Brindabella) (11.27), by leave: We could talk about this bloke all day. I promise I will be brief. Dozzie, this place is not going to be the same, mate. I am going to speak on behalf of everyone here and summarise, in one sentence, what is going on in their hearts: Steve, we love you, man. I hope you can feel that today. I am sure you can.
Here before us is a truly great man. I want to say how much of a privilege it has been of mine to serve the people of Canberra alongside Steve Doszpot. When you consider where he came from—when you consider the hurdles that have been placed in front of him and the battles that he has had to fight—you begin to realise, as my friend Mr Hanson said, what an extraordinary life that this man has led up till now. What an extraordinary life!
I came to Canberra in 1999 and I came to know Steve very early on in my time here. I was working on the radio at Mix 106.3 initially. Steve, as we all know, has never been shy when it comes to promoting the game of football. Back then we were involved in the 2000 Olympics. I refuse to call the game soccer today; it will be football. It was through his love for this beautiful game that our paths initially crossed.
It meant that when Steve put his hand up to contest a seat in this place I followed his 2001 campaign with great interest. History shows that he was not successful. But I always had an inkling that he would butter up for another go if given the opportunity. Of course he did in 2004, but was beaten in extra time. Takes a glutton for punishment to opt in for all that pain for a third occasion, but he did.
When Steve was elected to this place it happened on the same day that I tried and failed back in 2008. Despite my negative result I was most pleased to celebrate his victory. In the years since, we have seen Steve develop into a first class member, a dogged shadow minister. Much has been said already so I will not go over it. He has achieved so much.
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