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Death Of Frederick Douglas Claude Caterson, A Former Member Of The Legislative Assembly
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DEATH OF FREDERICK DOUGLAS CLAUDE CATERSON, A FORMER MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
Page: 4066
Dr REFSHAUGE (Marrickville-Deputy Premier, Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and Minister for Housing) [7.30 p.m.]: I move:
That this House extends to Mrs Caterson and family the deep sympathy of members in the Legislative Assembly at the loss sustained by the death on 25 February 2000 of Frederick Douglas Claude Caterson, a former member of the Legislative Assembly.
Frederick Caterson was born at Nobbys Creek on the Tweed River in 1919. He attended Sydney University between 1936 and 1938, studying in the faculty of Economics, and served in the Australian Military Force. He was the Chief Industrial Officer at Qantas from 1943 to 1959. Frederick Caterson moved to the Baulkham Hills area more than 40 years ago because he believed that it was the best place to raise a family. Fred’s desire to serve the local community led him into local government in 1956. His first period in local government was cut short when he took up a post as head of the Department of Labour in Papua New Guinea from 1959 to 1962. On his return to Australia he rejoined the Baulkham Hills shire council, where he remained until his retirement in 1991, some 29 years later. He was Deputy Shire President for about 22 of those years. During this time, Fred was the industrial adviser to the Australian Air Pilots from 1962 to 1976.
Fred was the member for The Hills for 14 years, winning five elections between 1976 and 1988. He retired in 1990 to spend more time with his family. During his parliamentary career Fred Caterson played an active role. He was Opposition Whip from 1978 to 1981 and again from 1983 to 1984. He was also Temporary Chairman of Committees, trustee of the Parliamentary Superannuation Fund, a member of the Select Committee Upon Disclosures by Members, and a member of the Executive of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Fred Caterson will always be remembered for his hard work on behalf of the residents of Baulkham Hills. Former Baulkham Hills Shire President Bernard Mullane said of Fred:
No problem has ever been too small and no cause too trivial if it has been important to a constituent.
Fred served the people of Baulkham Hills for more than 30 years, both in and out of Parliament, and earning the love and respect of his community and his colleagues. Fred is survived by his wife, Linda, children Ian, Robyn and Glenys and six grandchildren. We honour him today.
Mrs CHIKAROVSKI (Lane Cove—Leader of the Opposition) [7.34 p.m.]: It is with great sadness that I speak to this motion of condolence on the passing of Mr Frederick Caterson, who was well known and well regarded within this Parliament, as well as within the various communities that he served. Fred was a dedicated member of this House for 14 years. He was much loved and is fondly remembered by the Liberal Party. Frederick Caterson was a man committed to the welfare of the people in The Hills district. He moved to The Hills district over 40 years ago to raise his family. As the Deputy Premier said, Fred was born in 1919 at Nobbys Creek on the Tweed River, and he was one of 10 children. He was educated at Sydney Boys High School and served in the Australian Military Forces. He was elected with overwhelming support in five elections, winning a by-election in 1976 with a landslide majority of 78 per cent of the vote—an achievement many members in this House would like to emulate but few, I suspect, will ever accomplish.
Fred was hugely popular. He was widely admired for his capacity to relate to and empathise with people throughout the community and also for his commitment to strong family values. He was described in the Hills News as the “quintessential man of The Hills”. This tribute is a direct reflection of Fred Caterson's unrelenting commitment to and advocacy for the people of his electorate. Fred Caterson took pride that he was a local man representing his home area in this Parliament. He was proud to describe The Hills area as the food basket of Sydney, filled with orchards, poultry farms and market gardens. He made it clear in his maiden speech, and often repeated, how incredibly proud he was to represent such a beautiful area.
Mr Caterson’s service to the people of The Hills spanned much more than the 14 years he stood as a member. Professionally he made his mark as Chief Industrial Officer with Qantas. Privately it was his inherent desire to contribute to the district that he had grown to love that led him to successfully contest the local government elections of 1956. He resigned from council in 1959 to accept an appointment as the head of the Department of Labour in Papua New Guinea. When he returned to Australia in 1962 he again took up a seat on the local council, staying on for a remarkable 29 years until his retirement from council in 1991. Of the 32 years that Fred Caterson served on council, he was Deputy Shire President for 24—again a remarkable achievement.
In 1976 Mr Caterson was elected member for The Hills and took his seat in this House. He had been preselected from a field of 41 candidates. He successfully combined the role of local member and Deputy Mayor until his retirement from Parliament in 1990. Upon his resignation he was awarded the Medal of Australia in 1990 for his dedication to the community and The Hills. As the Deputy Premier said, Fred was Temporary Chairman of Committees, Opposition Whip from 1978 to 1981 and again in 1983 and 1984. He fulfilled his obligations to this House by being a trustee of the Parliamentary Superannuation Fund. He was also a member of the Select Committee upon Disclosures of Members in 1983 and 1984. I suspect he watches with great interest our progress in that area. He was a member of the Executive of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association from 1978 to 1982 and again in 1983 to 1984. In his maiden speech Fred revealed his essential approach to politics and his role:
I am conscious of the great responsibility that rests on me as the new member for The Hills—to represent it adequately and well in this Parliament.
There is absolutely no doubt that is exactly what he did. My colleague Wayne Merton, the honourable member for Baulkham Hills, successfully summarised the feelings of many when he said:
If a legacy to Fred Caterson is sought, it is found in the quality of life that we enjoy in The Hills.
As members of this House we would all seek a similar legacy—to be remembered for the improvements we effect or contribute to in improving the living standards and quality of life of those we represent. Fred Caterson represented all that we should aspire to—representation of the individual and community, with no concern too small or too large to pursue. Fred Caterson dedicated his service in this House to supporting and protecting people, and that certainly is his legacy. He was a prominent figure of the Liberal Party, a member of the Castle Hill branch for 25 years and president for 11 years. He is a great loss to the party and to the community. On behalf of the Coalition I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife, Linda, and his three children Ian, Robyn and Glenys.
Mr DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! I formally acknowledge the presence in the gallery of Mrs Linda Caterson, Dr Glenys Caterson, Dr Robyn Caterson and Professor Ian Caterson. We are pleased to see them here tonight to listen to those members who speak to this condolence motion. We hope the family derives some satisfaction and pleasure from what is said.
Mr GIBSON (Blacktown) [7.40 p.m.]: Tonight I pay respect to Fred Caterson. I do so because Fred Caterson was a thorough gentleman and that is probably the highest praise I could give him. He was nature's gentleman. Fred Caterson was one of those people about whom one could not say a bad word. He never had a bad word to say about anyone. The Opposition mentioned the great win that Fred Caterson had in The Hills in 1976. I know something about that because I stood in the State election against Max Ruddock. Unfortunately Max passed away just after the election. At the by-election I put up my hand again for the Australian Labor Party and Fred Caterson won the preselection for the Liberal Party. I might say that Fred just beat me across the line that time—he received only 76 per cent of the vote! That was a great lesson for me in politics. It was a pleasure to meet the Caterson family at that time.
After the caning that I got Fred said to always remember, "if you're right, fight". From 1976 I saw Fred only on the odd occasion until 1988 when I was elected as member for Londonderry. The first person I met when I came into Parliament was Fred, who pulled me aside and asked me if I remembered what he had told me in 1976. I told him that I recalled that he told me to fight when I am right, that I had never forgotten it and that it is one of the best principles. When I had trouble some time ago I thought of what Fred said and I did fight when I was right. If it had not been for Fred maybe I would not have fought as hard as I did. I extend my deepest sympathy and that of members of my family to the Caterson family. Fred spoke about a lot of things and, of course, local government was his forte before he came to State Parliament. He was very proud of his children who are very well educated and hold high positions in their chosen professions. Their father was very proud of them.
Mr SOURIS (Upper Hunter—Leader of the National Party) [7.42 p.m.]: On behalf of members of the National Party, I extend condolences on the sad passing of Fred Caterson. As other speakers have already said, Fred held the blue ribbon seat of The Hills for the Liberal Party from 1976 until his retirement in July 1990. Thereafter, he handed it on in perfect condition. Fred was an easy man to like. I met him in 1988 when I was first elected to Parliament. He was a kind and gentle man and for that he was respected in his electorate and across political boundaries. I had been in this place for just two years when Fred chose to resign after 14 years as member for The Hills. During those two years we had quite a few conversations. In conversations with me which continued after he retired he indicated that he was considering moving to the electorate of Upper Hunter and would consider voting for the National Party. That did not in fact happen, but I certainly looked forward to it.
I first met Fred when he was the chairman of Neil Pickard's ministerial advisory committee on minerals and energy. The honourable member for Baulkham Hills was also a member of that committee. I was told I was selected for that committee because I came from the Hunter Valley where there were coalmines, but I did not really know much about what was going on. Within about two days of coming to this place the committee had two major jobs. The first was to carry out an investigation involving community consultation on what was proposed as the Mount Piper to Marulan power line. That was quite a baptism, I can assure honourable members, but Fred was steadfast throughout and pursued the matter methodically. A couple of times I felt exasperated but thankfully Fred was there to keep the conversation going because the committee encountered high sentiment in the area where that power line was going.
I thought it was pretty good to be a member of Parliament because Fred informed me that within the first few days we were going off to Japan on a coal mission with union members, government representatives, other people and some members of his committee. In fact, the honourable member for Baulkham Hills also was in attendance on that occasion. We had quite a few discussions on tour and Fred always said—and I have said it many times subsequently—that what goes on tour stays on tour. Honourable members do not have to worry as nothing of any reportable value occurred but it was good advice. Accompanying us on tour on that occasion were the general secretary and national general secretary of the Miners Federation and people of that calibre so whatever strategy and tactics emerged on tour had to stay on tour. If one breached that code one's passport would be stamped "NTA"—never tour again!
The simple advice given to me by Fred has stuck with me. On one occasion in relation to getting one's message across when I was writing lots of pages Fred said, "Just get your photo in the paper, don't worry about the article". That was very good advice. Fred was also the father of very good friends and supporters of mine, his daughter, Dr Glenys Caterson and his son-in-law, Councillor Bailey and their children at Gulgong. I am very pleased to see the family in the gallery, Mrs Linda Caterson, Dr Robyn Caterson and Professor Caterson. I assume they are all doctors of which Fred was proud. Both Glenys and Colin are wonderful community-based people who are exceedingly generous with their time and resources. One of the reasons why members like me are re-elected is the support that we receive from people such as Glenys and Colin. It is a great pleasure to know such wonderful people and to count them as friends and supporters. On behalf of my National Party colleagues and members of my family, I extend deepest sympathy to Mrs Linda Caterson, Doctors Robyn and Glenys, Councillor Bailey and Professor Ian Caterson and their extended families.
Mr RICHARDSON (The Hills) [7.48 p.m.]: Politicians are not always thought of in the kindest terms. I suspect that the adjectives "sincere", "dedicated" and "decent" are not often used to describe politicians, even though they may be justified on many occasions. However, in Fred Caterson's case they were used and richly deserved. Fred was dedicated to three things: God, his family and The Hills, not just to the electorate but the people of the Baulkham Hills shire. Honourable members who spent some time with him here would remember his very genuine membership of the prayer group, a manifestation of his Christian faith about which we certainly heard a lot at his memorial service a little while ago in Castle Hill.
As I recall, Fred was also a teetotaller, but he did not try to foist his beliefs onto us. In that sense he was a private man and a modest man; a modest man who once told me that he felt a welling up of pride every time he walked into this place as the representative for The Hills. He lived in a modest house, a cramped house, in Castle Hill where he brought up his three children. When one walked in the front door, the corridor that led down the centre of the house was so narrow that it was almost impossible to get past anyone who was standing in the corridor. But he brought up his three children there, and as we heard earlier, he was immensely proud of them. They all became doctors, which is something of a record in itself. Very often you will hear of the children of one family all becoming professional people, but it is rare that they should all go into the same profession, and a very highly regarded profession. Two of the children are medical specialists and one is a professor. It is not surprising that Fred and Linda should be so proud of their children.
I recount to the House an expression used by Fred's great friend Bernie Mullane, a former long-term shire president of Baulkham Hills council, at the memorial service. He referred to Fred by his nickname of "Bletchingly", which I had not heard of. Bletchingly was a champion stallion that sired champions. One only has to look at Fred's children and grandchildren, to know that it is certainly true that he sired champions. The essential sense of decency with which Fred was blessed shines through Linda, his wife for 55 years. As we have heard, she is here tonight. I recall that I rang Linda on the day I heard that Fred had passed away. Despite all her worries and her concerns, after I had been speaking with her for only a minute or so she asked me how my mother was. My parents had been great friends of the Caterson's for a long time. I will always remember that.
Before Fred entered Parliament, he had a 30-year career in industrial relations with Qantas—something that would have struck a chord with honourable members on the other side of the House—with the Department of Labour in Papua New Guinea and as an industrial advocate for the Australian Air Pilots Association. His knowledge of industrial relations was second to none. His range of contacts was profound. He was able to go to Parliament House in Canberra and greet any number of people on both sides of the House by their first name, a useful attribute for the industrial advocate for the Australian Air Pilots Association. Fred served on Baulkham Hills shire council for more than 30 years, 22 of which were spent as deputy shire president.
Fred and his great friend Bernie Mullane were, in a sense, an unlikely combination. Bernie, as Fred would concede, was a Labor man and Fred was a Liberal, through and through. Their common bond was the desire to do their very best for the people whom they represented, the people of the Baulkham Hills shire. Party politics really did not enter into their decisions. Fred was on the council for all of the 14 years he was a member of this House. His rationale was that when in opposition it was the best way for him to achieve something for the people whom he represented. As we are now in opposition I will not make any further comment, but it may strike a resonant chord with certain honourable members in this Chamber.
Fred was preselected from a field of more than 40 candidates. The Liberal Party and, I suspect, the Labor Party, does not have preselection fields as large as that any more. I believe that the preselection process lasted for two days and it is a tribute to his skills that he managed to come out ahead on that occasion. My father, Len, who passed away in 1984 became Fred's Castle Hill branch and Hills State electorate conference president. He was also Fred's campaign director for a number of elections. Fred never went close to needing preferences, even during the Wranslide years. Some innovative campaign techniques were tried that might not work today, but a number of honourable members on the other side of the House might like to utilise them or improve on them.
In 1978 Fred released a record called Fred Caterson: Our Man of the Hills. I still have a copy of it. It is the only record I have of both Fred's voice and my father's voice. It also has the voice of former Leader of the Opposition, Peter Coleman. Unfortunately, Peter Coleman lost his seat in that election, but Fred went on to yet another massive victory. I think that speaks volumes for Fred's popularity in The Hills. Fred was most concerned about health care, not, funnily enough, industrial relations. I can remember him coming to conference after conference, branch meeting after branch meeting and talking about health issues. When one considers the profession his children have chosen, perhaps it is not surprising that health was the issue about which he was most concerned.
At one stage Fred was chairman of an organisation called The Hills District Hospital Board. As he said in his maiden speech, it was referred to as the board without a hospital. Unfortunately, it always remained the board without a hospital. Some land was acquired and there were some problems with that land not being big enough. There would have been some problems with the buffer zone around that land if the hospital had been built on the site. Fred said that he had been told that although there were plans for a hospital, the hospital would never be built. Unfortunately, that proved to be correct. But it was not for want of trying on Fred's part. It is a great pity that he did not succeed in that endeavour.
When Fred retired he went to live in south-east Queensland, where Linda's family came from. He frequently came to Sydney and he insisted on driving down, usually in one day. That was against the better judgment of some people, particularly Linda, I suspect. When he was in town he would usually ring me and discuss political issues, among other things. He was a very percipient man. Sometimes he would be critical of us. More often I have to tell the Deputy Premier, Fred was critical of the Government. I always enjoyed his calls, and I will miss them.
On behalf of the people of The Hills I extend my deepest sympathy to Fred's family who are here tonight—to Linda, to Dr Robyn Caterson, to Glenys Bailey and to Colin Bailey his son-in-law—to Professor Ian Caterson who is not able to be here tonight because he is overseas, and also to Fred's grandchildren. Fred is gone, but he is not forgotten. His legacy will live on in The Hills for many years to come. Given the length of time he served on council, given the length of time that he served as member for The Hills, people might not realise just what his contribution was. But every day of their lives they will benefit from it.
Mr NAGLE (Auburn) [7.58 p.m.]: I extend to Linda, Robyn and Colin, Fred Caterson's grandchildren and the rest of his family my deepest sympathy. It is a sad day now that Fred has gone. I knew him when I was elected to Parliament in 1988. I found him to be a very kind and gentle man. He was a man who really cared about people. He was very taken with his constituency and his electorate and he was a tenacious fighter. In 1989 the Lidcombe egg carriers were being sacked. The Greiner Government was seeking to introduce egg deregulation legislation. One Patsy Davey, my wife's mother, who lived with her mother and father in The Hills. Her mother and father were egg carriers. They had lost their business and fought under the old Labor Government to preserve their rights. They had failed in the Industrial Commission.
My wife's mother had suffered cancer, stressed out by the fight, and had died one week before this House passed amendments to compensate the egg carriers affected by what was called the Nick Greiner deregulation egg regulation legislation. Fred Caterson encouraged me to pursue that particular issue on behalf of constituents in my electorate who were egg carriers as well as constituents in his electorate, among whom were Karen Davey's mother and father, Albert and Patsy. Even Phillip Smiles came to see me, as did many Labor people who were concerned to preserve the rights of these people—rights that had been initially taken away by a Labor Government, but were at that time going to be removed by the Greiner Government. Fred Caterson participated in that debate for Albert and Patsy Davey. He was able to secure the support of John Dowd, then Attorney General, for the amendments that would compensate the egg carriers. Fred Caterson and Phillip Smiles spoke to John Dowd, and agreement was reached. The amendment created an arbitration panel, which in turn would consider whether or not the drivers, including the Davey family, were entitled to compensation. A few weeks later I was given a brief to appear for those truck drivers, including the Davey family.
I was quite concerned, having been involved in the passing of that legislation, whether or not I should accept that brief, so I sought advice. Among that advice was support from Fred Caterson and a number of other people in the Liberal Party, National Party and the Labor Party, including the then Leader of the Opposition, Bob Carr. I took the case on. Ultimately, all those drivers, including the Davey family, were compensated. They were compensated because of what Fred Caterson was able to do in his own political party regarding the amendment that I had moved in this House. When all the drivers had been compensated a big debate erupted in this Chamber. On a Thursday morning I walked in here. I recall it as if it were yesterday. When I walked through those doors I saw the honourable member for Drummoyne, John Murray, on his feet, defending me against an attack by Ian Armstrong for charging what he called outrageous fees for defending those people. I was called upon, without notice, to defend myself. During that debate Fred Caterson passed a note to me saying, "I want you to tell the Parliament that I told you to take that brief, that I told you to work for those people." Irrespective of the attitude of his own party, he knew the rightness of the cause and he knew that right had been done.
Because I did not want to get Fred into trouble, I did not make reference to that note during the debate. Later that morning I received a telephone call from Fred Caterson in which he told me he had just been to see the Premier, Nick Greiner, to tell him what a despicable act it had been to launch an attack upon me in the House, because all I had done was seek to protect the drivers. That was the type of men that Fred Caterson was. Shortly thereafter he resigned. That is my experience of Fred Caterson, the member for The Hills. He was a great man, one who makes this Parliament proud. Peter Cox, also a friend of Fred Caterson, would want me to say to the House that a good man has gone, a principle man has gone, a fighter for his electorate has gone, a fighter for the constituency that he represented has gone. Well, Fred, rest in peace. God bless you. You have done a great job. At least 36 families in New South Wales will thank you for what you did for them.
Mr ROZZOLI (Hawkesbury) [8.03 p.m.]: I wish to express my condolences to Linda Caterson and members of her family on the loss of their husband and father, Fred. Of all the members in this House, I probably had the longest working association with Fred. I was a member of the Liberal Party all the time that he was a member of Parliament. I do not intend to transgress the ground that has already been covered, but I wish to speak in praise of one attribute of Fred that has not been touched on by my colleagues—Fred's commitment to the Liberal Party. That may seem a strange thing to say; we are all committed to the party to which we belong. However, I can assure the House that there are differing levels of commitment.
Fred Caterson was for many years President of the Mitchell Federal Electorate Conference. He contributed very much to the work of the Liberal Party in the Federal sphere as well. Much has been made of his association with The Hills and The Hills State Electorate Conference. However, unlike the handsome majority that Fred enjoyed in The Hills—he took over The Hills when it was in very good condition, from Maxwell Stanley Ruddock, Fred's predecessor and a member who did a very good job as well, embodying the special spirit that members for Steels generally have—Mitchell was not always a safe seat. There was a period when Mitchell slipped from our grasp. Fred was very much at the forefront of the drive to win back Mitchell when Alan Cadman came in. Fred proved to be a very committed and dedicated party person, at a time when we heard so much about factional matters within political parties. Fred was not a factional person; he was dedicated to the Liberal Party and the principles of the Liberal Party as he saw them and what the party stood for. It was his dedication to the Liberal Party that saw the seat of Mitchell returned to the Coalition in 1974.
I also had a very long association with Fred through local government, because I started my career in local government as an alderman of Windsor Municipal Council. We often met at what was then the early stirrings of regional organisations in that western Sydney area. That was in the days before Wesroc, in the days when there was but a fledgling move to try to represent the people of western Sydney on a regional basis. Fred was there, a very active participant in such movements in those times. It is interesting to recall those meetings, many of which were held in the Blacktown Council chambers, and to reflect on the cross-party representation. Ron Mulock was another member who was a great advocate of the regional approach. Both Ron and Fred were men who saw the value of moving across party political boundaries and working for western Sydney as an entity in its own right. So he was a visionary in that regard and did much to build the framework that eventually emerged as Wesroc.
It was in 1976 that Max Ruddock unfortunately died. He had been very sick before the election, and passed away just a few days after it. That was the occasion that brought Fred Caterson into this House. It was always one of our concerns that Fred had to wait a long time to get here. Max Ruddock died in May, but the by-election was not held until September. Of course, we tried to make some political capital from the outrageous delay. It was also significant that the same Government made Fred wait a long time before he got to make his maiden speech. Of all the members of this House, no-one was gagged more than Fred was. I do not think that was related to the damage that the Government thought Fred would inflict upon it; Fred, in his gentlemanly and thoughtful attitude to others, principally at the time he was Opposition Whip, always put himself at the end of the speaking list to enable his colleagues to go before him. It always seemed that by the time Fred rose to speak the patience of the then Leader of the House—probably Frank Walker, but perhaps also in Terry Sheahan's time—had run out, and once again Fred would be gagged.
There has been mention of Fred's nickname, given to him by Bernie Mullane. Of course, he had a different nickname in this Chamber. He was known to his colleagues as Fiery Fred. We have heard much of Fred's quiet and gentlemanly disposition. But Fred was also a man with great passion for issues that he believed in, was involved with and thought deeply about, and as a result he could become very intense about those issues. When stirred, he could well and truly live up to his reputation as a fiery advocate for matters in which he held deep beliefs. In his time here he made a very important contribution to this House. Above all things, he honoured the House and its institutions. I, as someone who occupied the chair for seven years and observed the behaviour of members of Parliament, always held the wish that we could have a Parliament of people like Fred Caterson rather than some of the people I have to preside over.
I value those who have a great respect for this institution and its dignity. Fred Caterson was a person who always conducted himself with great dignity and in honour of the organisations with which he was associated. The people of The Hills were very well served by Fred in his dual capacities as a local government representative and as a member of the New South Wales Parliament. His name will always be remembered because, amongst other things, it is recorded on the Fred Caterson Reserve, a large passive and active recreation reserve in Castle Hill. That is a very fitting tribute to the man; it brings to mind his very close association with the ordinary person in the street, because the ordinary person goes there to enjoy his or her recreation time. Fred Caterson's memory certainly will live on for many years to come. I feel honoured to stand here tonight and pay tribute to his years of community service. I extend to Linda and members of the family my sincere condolences on his passing.
Mr E. T. PAGE (Coogee) [8.11 p.m.]: When one is elected to this place there are generally hard and fast rules. One such rule is the distinction between us and them. One tends not to be very receptive to the views and attitudes of honourable members on the other side of the Chamber but, as time goes on one mellows and one becomes a bit more receptive to the position of other people. I am talking about the Opposition. That was the situation pertaining to Fred and me. When I was elected to Parliament he and I were certainly on very different sides of the fence. We spent over eight years together in this Parliament, and as time went on I grew to respect Fred. He was a genuine person who followed his agenda in a rigorous and moral way. I can only reinforce the description by the honourable member for Hawkesbury of how Fred compassionately articulated where he stood on an issue.
I was also very impressed that Fred spent 30 years on Baulkham Hills Council and made a great contribution there. So I had great respect for a guy with whom I spent eight years in this Parliament. In a sense, however, that was a one-dimensional assessment, but that assessment extended when, as the Minister, I became involved with Cudgegong County Council and Mudgee Council. There I met Col Bailey and Fred's daughter, Glenys. That made me think more about Fred and it gave me a two-dimensional perspective of the man. I had met his daughter and his son-in-law and I was impressed with them as good community people. I then thought about Fred in a more mature sense than I had before. I extend my condolences to Glenys and Colin and to the other family members, whom I do not know. I acknowledge that Fred made a great contribution to the State Parliament and to local government. He will be remembered.
Mr MERTON (Baulkham Hills) [8.14 p.m.]: Fred Caterson was not interested in rewriting the New South Wales Constitution or in becoming Premier. He preferred righting wrongs and helping people in dire straits, and his word was his bond. Frederick Douglas Claude Caterson's prime mission in life was simple and sustained—protector of the individual. Widely regarded as a man of the people, he never stopped serving those who elected him—initially the . from 1956 to 1990, some 34 years, and the State Parliament from 1976 until his retirement from the Greiner Government about 10 years ago. A family man, renowned for his integrity, he was truly an advocate of everyday folk. His legacy today is found everywhere in his former electorate, The Hills, in Sydney's north-west. His long-time friend, former Baulkham Hills Shire President, Councillor Bernard Mullane, said in the eulogy:
Because of his tireless work to preserve the amenity of the Garden Shire we now enjoy our large family homes and the peaceful, tree-lined streets surrounded by magnificent recreational reserves.
Fred would seek no more satisfying epitaph. Fred Caterson, who grew up in Nobbys Creek on the Tweed River in northern New South Wales, was one of 10 children, "the seventh son of the seventh son" as he often said. Educated at Sydney Boys High School, he saw service in the Australian Military Forces before becoming the chief industrial officer for Qantas between 1943 and 1959, where he won the respect of both sides in any difficult argument. For the next 15 years he was industrial adviser to and advocate for the Australian Pilots Federation. Don Gray, a colleague and friend of some 34 years, said at Fred's funeral:
If any pilot or Qantas employee sought assistance, I'd say to them "Have you rung Fred? With his reputation for integrity and fair-play Caterson always had the entree to all levels of Government, regardless of political persuasion. To him this access was ironic. He often joked, "It's easier for me to get to the Prime Minister than to Qantas management."
I do not know what the position is today. Fred was Secretary of the Department of Labour and Chairman of the Apprentice Board. He spent four years in Papua New Guinea from 1959 as Chairman of the Employment Board, where he developed the industrial relations structure of that burgeoning young country. He always said he never had time to be shire president; nevertheless he served as deputy president of Baulkham Hills for decades during three terms. He was a distinguished member of the Local Government Appeals Tribunal. Fred Caterson was drafted by the Liberal Party from a record 41 candidates and he romped home in the 1976 by-election with an unprecedented 78 per cent of the vote. I might add that I was one of those 41 candidates. I saw only one day of a two-day preselection, but the fact that I had joined the Liberal Party on Thursday and nominated on Friday meant that I hardly had much chance. Caterson was the winner and I would have been a bolter, to say the least.
Hugely popular because of his common touch and family values, held together by vigorous Christian spirituality, Fred easily won his four subsequent elections, ably assisted by his wife and soul mate, Linda. In fact, the electors of The Hills had a package deal. They had Fred and Linda and they paid only one salary. Putting it bluntly, they got a very good deal. Fred's parliamentary career was one of solid achievement. He was Temporary Chairman of Committees, trustee of the Parliamentary Superannuation Fund, Opposition Whip for six years, member of the Select Committee upon Disclosures by Members and executive of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. He was a weariless worker in the wings who seldom sought centre stage.
In the community he was extremely active. He was a member of the Privacy Committee. He was patron, office bearer and member of local hospital boards and a wide range of other local organisations, resulting in his Medal of Australia for community service in 1990. His recreational passion was cricket and he applied its fundamental principles to life: playing a straight bat and always accepting the umpire's decision. He was also a lifelong farmer, but he laughingly said he was none too successful. He ran merino sheep and Hereford cattle on a Gulgong property and he had a name for every animal. It was said that he couldn't bear to part with any critter when it came to sale time.
Fred Caterson was a lay preacher. To some he was an exemplary soul who, in the words of Solomon Islands missionary and friend, Paster Roy Funu, was "a saintly man who exemplified the well-known quote 'The family that prays together stays together.'" On retirement he moved to a property in southern Queensland which he named GlenRobIan after his three children. Fred has been survived by his wife, Linda, and children, Ian, Robyn and Glenys, and son-in-law, Colin Bailey. Fred’s mission was always to show a helping hand to those in need and to give a word of encouragement_but above all to fight for their rights. His everlasting monument is to be found in the affection and esteem the name Fred Caterson holds in the hearts of the people in The Hills area. When the songwriter wrote these very prophetic words he exemplified Fred's fundamental commitment to society, the church and his family:
I would bring peace when men rise in anger, ease aching hearts with words that soothe and heal. Peacemaker Lord my calling seal.
Mr DEBUS (Blue Mountains—Minister for the Environment, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Corrective Services, and Minister Assisting the Premier on the Arts) [8.20 p.m.]: I speak briefly in condolence to the Caterson family, in particular because I grew up in the same place. I could not have stayed in the same place and entered the Parliament given my political convictions. As a number of people have acknowledged, it is one of the safest conservative seats in the southern hemisphere. My parents moved to Castle Hill and we lived in the same street as Fred and Linda Caterson. They moved at about the same time. In fact, Fred Caterson was the first politician I ever met.
I recall in 1957 standing outside the Baulkham Hills Shire Council Chambers at Castle Hill with a man whom the Caterson family will remember for he was their neighbour, at least for a while: Robert Geisslinger. He used to teach me German with an Austrian accent, until I forgot it. I think he was more inclined to my view of politics than Fred's, but he was a friend of Fred's and more than prepared to support him as he ran for a place on the Baulkham Hills council. Fred was successful and, as I understand it, became a fixture on that council for what amounted to several political generations.
I want also to confirm those things that Fred's colleagues have been saying about his honesty, straightforwardness, and his gentlemanly qualities. They were certainly shown to me when I arrived for the first time in this Parliament in 1981. I will always appreciate the memory of the friendship that he offered to me on the basis that we did at least in some sense come from the same place. I offer my condolences especially to Mrs Caterson, who was my mum's friend, and to the family, who I think were not exactly my contemporaries, but nearly. In a paradoxical sense it is a pleasure to me that I am able to join in this condolence motion.
Members and officers of the House stood in their places.
Motion agreed to.
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