30th Anniversary Dinner
Thank you, Dean and Alison [Troth], for your warm remarks, and thank you - along with Andrew Asten, Bernie Cappichiano and Anthony Fernandes - for organising this evening. What began as a three-month project has turned into an 18-month marathon! May I also thank the sponsors of this evening, the Australian Hotels Association, Phillip Webb Real Estate, TLC Aged Care and Bernie’s Music Land.
Margie and I were brought up with a strong sense of serving our communities, which was founded in our faith and reinforced by our education. My parents, for example, voluntarily administered the local racing club for over 20 years; and Margie’s father was involved in the establishment and management of the town’s credit union. As a consequence, we became involved in various community and professional organisations in the first decade of our marriage, many related to supporting the family.
Our involvement included marriage education for some 30 years – and I acknowledge the presence tonight of many members and supporters of the Marriage Education Programme, too many to mention by name - as well as those with whom we worked nationally; and our 15-year membership of the National Catholic Marriage and Family Council.
Three decades ago, I concluded that perhaps I could achieve more within the political system than outside it – more with Margie’s toleration than her blessing! Hence the decision to stand for pre-selection and subsequently parliament. In Paul Hasluck’s words, I took ‘the chance of politics.’
I reflected on those years in my Valedictory Speech, so I will not repeat them tonight, except to note that more than ever, every facet of our polity, including our institutions - of which we are all members and participants - requires renewed leadership based on values and policies, rather than identity and preferences.
I thank the many people who have supported us over the past 31 years, especially the Liberal Party members who first pre-selected me, and supported me in winning 11 elections, without whom I would not have served in the Australian Parliament. I also thank my former staff, many of whom are here tonight. I express my appreciation to my parliamentary colleagues with whom I have served, including those who sent video messages, and especially Prime Ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott in whose cabinets I was privileged to serve the nation. I am particularly grateful to Tony for his friendship over 31 years and for his words of support tonight.
After three decades, the circle has turned, and we are returning to our roots in community, civil society organisations and family, not that we ever really departed them. I look forward to making a continuing contribution to our community, but also to spending more time with our family: our mothers - both of whom are in their 90s and cannot be with us tonight – and our children and grandchildren.
Finally, I express my profound appreciation to Margie for her love and support over four decades, especially during my parliamentary term. She carried much of the responsibility of raising our five children which she often found challenging during my many absences. As parents, we are of the adults our children have become and what they have achieved.
In thanking you all, let me conclude with the words of the poet and writer, Hilaire Belloc:
From quiet homes and first beginning
Out to the undiscovered ends
There’s nothing worth the wear of winning
But laughter and the love of friends.
May God Bless you all, and May God Bless Australia.
Park Hyatt Hotel, Melbourne, July 13, 2022
