Tribute to Mr Frank Scarrabelotti, Mr Jack Hurley and Mr Harold Richmond Fredericks
Page: 1232
Mr THOMAS GEORGE (Lismore) [5.56 p.m.]: Tonight I have the difficult job of trying to capture 290 years of life in five minutes. Last Saturday the Northern Star carried the headline "League of Gentlemen: The week we farewelled three of our finest", because last week the Northern Rivers area lost three great men. First we lost Frank Scarrabelotti, who was aged 109. His life spanned three centuries, as he was born in 1897. The member for Ballina will pay tribute to him later in the sitting but tonight I offer my condolences, thoughts and prayers to his wife, Nell, daughters, Mary and Helen, and their families on the loss of a wonderful man.
The area also lost Harold Richmond Fredericks, affectionately known as the Black Prince, who died on 10 June and was buried last week. Harold was a member of the famous Z Force during World War II. He had 36 years of distinguished service in the Police Force and was one of the driving forces behind the establishment of the rescue helicopter service in Lismore.
Harold Fredericks retired from the police service and continued with community service. He was elected to the Lismore City Council in 1983 and became the mayor of the city in 1987 at the age of 64. Nora Vidler and Jack Mitchell paid tribute to Harold in their eulogies, recalling his distinguished service in the war, in the Police Force and in the community. I pass on my sympathy and that of the community to his wife, Colleen, daughters, Robyn and Gail, and his two sons, Peter and Paul. Paul has followed in his father's footsteps and is doing a great job in the Police Force in Lismore. I had the pleasure of serving on the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service Board with Harold, together with the late Bruce Duncan, a former member for Lismore, and on the day of the funeral two lifesaver helicopters flew over as a tribute to Harold.
Last week Jack Hurley also passed away. He will be deeply missed by the far North Coast and Kyogle local communities, the Lions club locally and nationally, and the Australian transport industry. Jack is a founding member of Brown and Hurley, together with his great mate, Alan Brown. Whilst Jack's success in business has often been measured by record sales, number of staff and investment in eight locations, his true success lies much deeper. His achievements were built on the enduring partnership between himself and Alan Brown and the wider Brown and Hurley families. This partnership, which lasted more than 60 years, continues today with the involvement of a third generation of both the Brown and Hurley families in the running of the business. The perseverance, hard work, foresight and business acumen shown by Jack Hurley made him an integral part of the Australian road transport industry.
Jack was also widely recognised as one of the driving forces behind the Lion's Road linking Kyogle to Brisbane, the Summerland Way, and the Westpac Helicopter Service. He was the author of two outstanding books and he was a foundation and current member of the Kyogle Lions Club. I have stated in the House before that the Kyogle Lions Club was the third such club established in Australia. Indeed, there are three foundation members still active in the club today—there were four before the loss of Jack.
At all times Jack had the strong support of his wife, Thelma, and his wider family. On a personal level Jack was a man of great humility and generosity. He was down to earth, loyal, inventive and community spirited. Una and John, Jim and Clare, Jo, Doug and Sandee, Kev and Colleen, his 16 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren, our thoughts and prayers are with you. Eulogies were given by sons, Jim and Doug, Alan Brown's son, Rob, and Andrew Wright, a former managing director of Kenworth. This has been a very bad week for the Northern Rivers area, which has suffered the loss of three great gentlemen. However, we celebrate the life of those three gentlemen.
Ms KRISTINA KENEALLY (Heffron—Minister for Ageing, and Minister for Disability Services) [6.01 p.m.]: I thank the member for Lismore for drawing the attention of the House to the loss that the Northern Rivers area has suffered with the departure of three gentlemen. The Northern Star paid Mr Fredericks, Mr Hurley and Scarrabelotti a fitting tribute. As Minister for Ageing, I acknowledge that older people make a significant contribution to their communities as carers, volunteers and active participants in the community. The Northern Rivers community has been enriched by the active and generous lives that these gentlemen led.