Page 2701 - Week 10 - Thursday, 15 October 1992
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ADJOURNMENT
Mr Phil Smyth
MR BERRY (Minister for Health, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (4.09): I move:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Madam Speaker, I rise to talk about the departure of a great athlete from the Australian Capital Territory. Last evening I was given one of the more pleasurable duties in undertaking my ministerial responsibilities, and that was involvement in a function attended by one of Canberra's great sporting stars, Phil Smyth. Phil will be missed on the playing arena in the ACT, and everywhere else that he played for the ACT and Australia, and in community life here in the Territory.
Phil joined the Cannons in 1983 after playing a season in the NBL with the St Kilda Saints in 1982. Since that time he has played in excess of 250 games for the club, the majority as team captain. He led the team to three national titles, a record unmatched by any other club in the country. He was the Cannons' most valuable player in five of his 10 years with the club. He was awarded the league's Best Defensive Player Award on six occasions, and was elected to the NBL All Star Five on seven occasions. That is a truly magnificent record. Internationally, Phil has represented the country at three Olympics and three world championships, after being selected for the national senior team at the age of 17. He has played for his country on more than 250 occasions, making him the most prolific player for the country in basketball history.
He is married to Ms Jenny Cheesman, an international athlete with a reputation and history almost as impressive as Phil's. Jenny has a national career covering the sports of basketball, netball and softball, and was appointed by this Government to the Bruce Stadium Trust when it existed.
In the community, Phil has a reputation as a public speaker and an endless worker for charity which is second to none. I should also add that I have had the pleasure of some association with Phil on health promotion matters. He has presented himself as an excellent role model to the community, both young and old. He is a non-smoker, non-drinker and non-partyer, according to his own description. He also described himself as somebody who would be prepared to stay out until 2 o'clock in the morning. The healthy image that he presented to the people of the ACT was an excellent role model and it is something that will be a loss to us.
I would like to take this opportunity, Madam Speaker, to wish him and his family every success with his future career in South Australia. I trust that he takes to South Australia all of the skills and benefits which he brought to the ACT.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Assembly adjourned at 4.13 pm until Tuesday, 20 October 1992
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