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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 5 Hansard (10 May) . . Page.. 1335 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

At times, Sir William's leadership of the RSL on these issues brought him into significant conflict with a number of his colleagues within the RSL. It is a reflection of the strength and the vision of Sir William that he was prepared as both secretary and president of the RSL to adopt, to propound and to advocate a range of positions which he knew would not be supported by a number of his colleagues and in many instances were vigorously opposed by some other significant and leading figures within the RSL.

I first met Sir William Keys at a conference I organised some years ago in the ACT, as a convenor of Racial Respect, in an attempt to respond to the division that was being generated in Australia as a result of the activities of the One Nation Party. As organiser of the conference, I invited Sir William to be the keynote speaker at that conference and Sir William kindly agreed and gave a speech in which he spoke vehemently and passionately on the subjects of multiculturalism, egalitarianism, fairness and what it means to be an Australian. Sir William was undeniably a great Australian visionary. In terms of his activities and attitudes within the RSL, he was a man before his time.

Just three weeks ago I attended the annual conference of the Korea and South East Asia Forces Association, which the Chief Minister has mentioned. Sir William attended that conference, albeit in a wheelchair and albeit at a time in his life when the illness that was besetting him was having a tremendous impact on his wellbeing and, quite obviously, on his health. Sir William would have been so proud of the fact that a dream that he had harboured for years, namely, the establishment and opening of a significant memorial to Korean veterans, was to take place two days later, a dedication that Sir William was able to attend. Acknowledging that Sir William died just 10 days or so after the Korean War memorial was dedicated on Anzac Parade, it is significant to me that Sir William chose to live until that particular dream and inspiration of his had become a reality.

Sir William Keys will always be remembered as an integral figure in the establishment of Australia's national identity. He had a very significant role to play, particularly as head of that great Australian institution, the RSL, which at times certainly frustrates some of us in the attitudes that it adopts. I know that it frustrated Sir William in terms of his determination to change what had been a more traditional role followed by the RSL.

He will always be revered as a warm, caring and loyal man who was dedicated to helping all Australians and will be missed by all Australians.

MR STEFANIAK (Minister for Education): I would echo the sentiments expressed by Mr Stanhope and the Chief Minister. Today we are paying tribute to not only a great Australian but also a local. Mr Stanhope and Mrs Carnell have gone through aptly and ably a lot of the highlights in Sir William's career. He was, in fact, brought up in the region. He was brought up on the family property near Bombala. Indeed, as a child, he almost drowned in a creek in Bemboka. He was very much a local. Indeed, when he was not soldiering, he described himself as a farmer by trade and he returned to the land and, effectively, lived in this region throughout most of his life when he was not serving his country.

I met Sir William on a number of occasions. Indeed, he was a friend of my father, who was also involved in the RSL. I was interested to read in the various obituaries that were published in the national dailies and to hear from listening to my two colleagues speak now of the significant work he did with that body, holding very senior positions over

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