Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

Wagga Wagga in the 1980s and 1990s was a colossus of sporting greats and greatness. It remains so. The eighties and nineties were particularly special when it comes to sporting success. Kooringal High in that era became Wagga Wagga's largest school. Kooringal High bristled with sporting talent. The names on the school's honour board are amongst Wagga Wagga's finest sporting achievers. Know this: Kooringal High was the alma mater of rugby league legend Peter Sterling, first-class batsman Jason Young and many others, including cricketer Karen Bland and volleyballer Kate Glastonbury. Take a quick glance at Kooringal High's sporting honours board and one family name stands out amongst all others—Murphy. There's Penni Murphy, who features year after year for diving, and then there's Penni's elder sister Peta, whose name is etched in gold on the board in 1990 for softball and 1991 for squash.

Peta Murphy was named Kooringal High's sportsperson of the year in 1990 and again in 1991. Given the number of outstanding sports boys and girls attending a school with such a large student population, to win this prestigious award once, let alone twice, is extraordinary. But when it came to Peta Murphy, it's probably, as we've heard today in the Australian parliament and in recent days in tributes given right across the nation, not that surprising at all. You see, the late Peta Murphy was an extraordinary person. She was a sportswoman of immense talent, a women's rights advocate of fierce determination, a solicitor, a barrister and a senior public defender, who, in her own words in her inaugural speech in this place, 'represented the damaged and the difficult, victims and perpetrators, the blameless and the blameworthy'. A passionate politician and a loving wife, daughter, sister, family member—Peta was all of these and so much, much more.

It seems incongruous to be referring to Peta in the past tense, to even use the term 'late' ahead of her name. It is so unfair, so very, very unfair. One of this parliament's—indeed, this nation's—brightest lights has been extinguished. At 50 years young, Peta had so much more to live for, so much more to give, but cancer does not discriminate. Cancer has taken someone who, judging by the touching words afforded by parliamentarians today, was a person we all admired, all looked up to. I hope in life she knew just how much she was respected, just how much she was loved and just how much we all cared about her. I can well recall the wicked humour she had and the texts we'd swap during question time. This will be a memory I will live with the rest of my parliamentary days, moments I will cherish.

This framed photograph hangs proudly in the library at Kooringal High School. It shows a bright-eyed teenager, squash racquet in hand, ready to take on the world. Just look at her—a beautiful smile, such vitality, such beauty, such grace, such dignity. That was Peta. That was her as a schoolgirl, and we remember her as a woman, and we will do that always. I hope that present students are made aware of Peta's life and that those who will be educated at Kooringal High in the future will draw inspiration from that photograph—from who she was and what she did, particularly girls, because she was a role model. She is a role model and she will continue to be so.

This is a copy of Peta's 1990 Riverina region sporting blue, a certificate marking her reaching the highest level of play and sportsmanship in softball. Peta could play; she really could. Her name appears over and over and over again in Kooringal High's The Lake yearbook during her secondary schooling. It was usually for sport, but it wasn't just that. She excelled at school sport. Anyone can play in a school sports team—I did—but not everybody can achieve regional, state or national level. Peta did, and she was so very good.

In the 1991 yearbook, when she was in her final year, year 12, her profile lists her being known as 'pumpkin eater', 'Nudge', and 'pita bread'. Amongst the things she hated—and this just goes to show her selflessness, modesty and humility—it lists 'trying to think of things to write about myself'. That probably doesn't sum up a politician, but it does sum up Peta. It sums her up perfectly. She lived for others. She loved being there for others. It was never about her, never ever.

In her first speech, on 24 July 2019, Peta mentioned very early on: 'It's been quite a journey to this place for a public-school girl from Wagga.' Kooringal High is mourning Peta's passing. I spoke to both the principal, Helen Schmetzer, and one of her former teachers, Margot Brissenden, this morning. Mrs Schmetzer used to live opposite us, and Mrs Brissenden used to live next door to us. That's Wagga Wagga. It's a caring community, and Peta loved being from there. She loved being educated there. Mrs Schmetzer remembered fondly the way that people have spoken about Peta, and Margot said:

Peta was an amazing student of kooringal high school. Very sad news to hear.

Margot, who is having her own health struggles with cancer at the moment, remembered making Peta's year 10 formal dress in 1989. Margot and Peta's mother, Jan, coached gymnastics together.

Kooringal High posted on Facebook:

The Kooringal High School community was saddened this week to learn of the passing of Peta Murphy. Peta was a student at KHS from 1985-1991 and her name is synonymous with many sports during that time, particularly squash and softball. Peta went on to have a successful career as a barrister prior to entering parliament. At the time of her death, Peta was the Labor member for the Victorian seat of Dunkley. The KHS community sends our deepest condolences to her family and friends.

The Wagga Wagga Squash Club honoured Peta, as she and her father, Bob, were ex-Wagga Squashies:

Peta played as a Tolland Squash junior in the eighties. She was a great player and carried a passion for our sport right throughout her life, even addressing Parliament on the many virtues of our great game.

The club posted that on Facebook.

Interesting, too, was one of the comments on the Squash Australia Facebook page, from Julie Berry:

I remember Peta as a young girl from Wagga through Tolland Squash. She was a great squash player, incredibly intelligent and a lovely person. Gone far too young. Condolences to her family.

In 2019 Peta was one of 26 new MPs, and of those 26 she is in the top five for speeches given in this place—306 speeches, each and every one of them articulating her passion, her commitment and her dedication not just to her electorate but, indeed, to the country she loved. Chris Crewther, who beat her in the 2016 election but then lost to her in the 2019 election, who is now the state member for Mornington, passed on his condolences. He also mentioned her beloved pooches. I recall texting pictures of our dogs—we both had labradors. That was a special moment for me.

Saying 'the late' and then Peta's name leaves a lump in the throat for all of us; it just does. She has been taken too soon. Deepest condolences to her husband of 24 years, Rod Glover; her parents, Bob and Jan; her sisters, Jodi and Penni; and her legion of friends and fans—and she had many. To the ALP family: my heart goes out to each and every one of you—I know how special she was and will continue to be—and also to her staff. May the perpetual light shine upon her. May Peta Murphy rest in peace.

See this speech in context