Steve Gibbons (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I see that has raised a few eyebrows across the room, but please let me explain; it is all legitimate! As I mentioned before, that wonderful old character the former member for Corangamite, Stewart McArthur, was a good mate of mine, and the Birregurra branch of the Liberal Party had organised a testimonial dinner for him. I was invited and more than happy to attend. I was fortunate enough to be seated at David Jull's table. Accompanying David was a bloke named John Crook, who was a Bendigo television identity back in the BCV8 days. He had moved up to Brisbane and had obviously become good friends with Jully. It was really entertaining listening to stories from both men about their early days in broadcasting. Jully told me some wonderful stories about his background in radio. He used to play music—I think it was called being a disc jockey in those days—for one of the big popular music stations in Brisbane, and it was the most popular station. Because of his role there, whenever the big, international rock acts came out to Australia and played in Brisbane, he would inevitably get the job as compere; and, as happened if you got the job of compere at these big rock concerts—I am talking about acts like the Rolling Stones and other really big-name acts—he was always invited to the after-concert parties, and that is where the stories got very, very interesting. I do not propose to go into any of those stories for obvious reasons: a lot of the central characters are still alive, which in itself is a remarkable achievement, given some of the stories that David Jull told us!

So it was a great night. I remember that, when I walked in and was ushered to Jully's table, I saw the whole room was decked out in green and yellow balloons, and I said to Jully: 'My God, McArthur's jointed the National Party!' He was quick to point out that, no, he had not joined the National Party; the balloons were the colours of the McArthur tartan, hence it was the colour scheme for the evening. It was David, John Crook and a good friend of mine, the former member for Corio, Gavan O'Connor, who was also a good friend of David Jull's, at that dinner, as well as Stewart McArthur, of course. It was a great night and we all had the opportunity to speak. It was great.

I guess that is as good a last meeting as you can get with somebody, being in that environment. I know he was not well, and that was apparent during the night. You all know what it is like when you meet up with people you like, you are friends with and you have not seen them for a while—appointments are made, 'Next time I'm in Brisbane, we'll catch up for lunch,' and all the names and addresses are taken down. I have been to Brisbane once since then and never had time. Now, of course, it is too late and, boy, do I regret that. He was a wonderful man, a wonderful bloke and a great credit to his party. He never had the tunnel vision or the fanaticism of some of the younger and newer members of the other side of politics. He was always a fair man but he was a fierce supporter of his own political side and its philosophy. I think the Libs will certainly miss him and I think the nation will miss him. I think he was a great servant to his country and a great credit to himself. My deepest sympathies go to his family and his friends.

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