Keith Wolahan (Menzies, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Many people join our Defence Force by calling a number—it's 131901—but, for most, that seed and that desire is planted earlier. We heard that for Jack Fitzgibbon that was decided next to his dad when he saw an army truck go from Singleton through the electorate. On those very same streets that he would have seen an army truck, his family, his friends and those who served with him gathered to say goodbye. I want to say to his dad, Joel, his mum, Di, and his sisters, Caitlin and Grace: you all spoke beautifully about your son and your brother.

To the members of the Defence Force Special Operations Command—2nd Commando Regiment, in particular— his platoon, the Corps of Signals—he was a signaller—and the Commando Welfare Trust: thank you so much for gathering on that most solemn of occasions to say farewell. His dad, Joel, said that when Jack's name came up on his phone he would call him by his full name, Jack Fitzgibbon—like we would to a naughty child but one that we loved dearly. In the pamphlet for him, it says: 'Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by my old familiar name.' Rest in peace, Jack Fitzgibbon.