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

It is with a heavy heart that I rise to speak on the condolence motion for the late Lance Corporal Jack Patrick Fitzgibbon. In doing so, I pass on my heartfelt wishes to his father, Joel; to his mother, Di; to his sisters, Caitlin and Grace; and to his partner, Maxine. No parent should ever have to bury a child. There is no word in the English language for a parent who has had to lay a child to rest. There is a word for a child who loses his or her parent; it's 'orphan'. There is no word in the English language to describe the reverse. I know Joel very well, and I know Grace very well. Joel, of course, was the long-serving member for Hunter. Grace is a wonderful news reporter. My heart goes out to the family.

I intend to keep this mass service booklet on my cupboard in my office here in Canberra to remind me of the fragility of life and of what Jack meant to this country, to his family and to his community. There's only one other mass leaflet that I have on my cupboard, and it's for Simon Crean.

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