Michelle Rowland (Greenway, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Communications) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to honour the life of Phillip Hughes and send my condolences to his family and friends. Over the past week we have seen an amazing outpouring of grief for a life tragically cut short. We have also seen a celebration of a life lived to the fullest; a life that gave joy to so many; a life that will continue to affect so many for years to come.

Phillip was born in the beautiful New South Wales mid-North Coast town of Macksville in 1988 to parents Greg and Virginia. The son of a banana farmer, Phillip excelled in both cricket and rugby league, but his diminutive stature would always lend itself more to the gentleman's game. After wearing out the arms of Macksville's finest bowlers, Phillip followed in the footsteps of Don Bradman, Brian Booth, Glenn McGrath and so many other great Australian cricketers and made the pilgrimage from the bush to the big smoke in pursuit of the baggy green.

Arriving in Sydney at the age of 17, Phillip joined the Western Suburbs District Cricket Club in Ashfield, scoring 141 not out on debut. The transition from the bush to the city could not have been more seamless, and Sydney's grade scene knew someone special had arrived. As his career progressed Phillip was selected to make his Australian debut against the might of South Africa on 26 February 2009 at new Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. Against one of the great bowling attacks in modern cricket, Phillip Hughes was dismissed for a duck in his first test innings. In what was to become a recurring theme throughout his career, Phil fought back after this initial setback and scored his maiden test hundred in the first innings of the second test before adding another hundred in the second innings. In doing so at the age of 20 years and 96 days, he became both the youngest Australian since Doug Walters to score a test century and the youngest player from any country to score a century in both innings of a test match.

Phillip would go on to be dropped four times from the Australian cricket team, and after every setback he went back to shield cricket and piled on the runs. As Australian captain Michael Clarke said of his work ethic and attitude, 'His legacy of trying to improve each and every day will drive us for the rest of our lives.' Phillip's work ethic, determination and sense of humour are traits espoused by all those who knew him—a loved young man with a cheeky grin and a determination to represent his country in the game he loved.

In my remarks today it would be remiss of me not to mention Sean Abbott. Sean is a young man from Sydney's north-west, who played his junior cricket with Baulkham Hills Cricket Club, not far from my electorate, before progressing to the grade cricket ranks with Parramatta and now for his state. My thoughts are with Sean. He deserves our support and indeed the support of the entire community.

The passing of Phillip Hughes has obviously impacted on so many. It reminds us that life is fragile and precious. It makes parents hold their children that extra bit tighter. It reminds us that life is more important, more special and more unpredictable than any game. As Alan Stokes writes in Fairfax media, 'The loss of someone so young cannot fail to strike at any heart.'

On the day Phillip is laid to rest I send my deepest condolences to Greg, Virginia, Megan and Jason Hughes. I cannot imagine the grief you are feeling, but know that Phillip was loved by so many. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Rest well, Phillip.

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