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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 5 Hansard (8 May) . . Page.. 1383 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

Wally was a Marist boy-Allan was called Wally by his mates. He was part of the 1988 Invincibles-the team that won the premier school boys rugby union competition, the Waratah Shield. They scored 941 points and conceded only 78 points in an incredible season which saw them undefeated. Wally represented the ACT, South Australia and the Northern Territory in rugby and played a large amount of his rugby career in the first grade at Royals.

One of the items that were up for auction was a Marist rugby union jumper with a picture of the 1988 Invincibles. I do not know who came up with the idea, but somebody suggested we tax all the old Marist boys there $20 each. We raised enough money to purchase this jumper and donate it back to the school as a permanent reminder of Wally. The Marist tax, as it was called, raised $1,720. Of the 400 people crammed into that room, there were about 100 Marist boys.

It was the spirit, the heart and the character-it was what people wanted to do and the generosity with which they gave-which made the night a success. People who helped support it-it is important that these people are recognised-were the Sydney Theatre Company, the Canberra Theatre, Coca-Cola, Corporate Express, Channel 7 in Sydney, Roma's Restaurant at Pearce, Frisco Furniture, Mark Casey Electrical, the Hyatt, Mezzalira, G & R Electrical, the Brassey and the ACT Brumbies.

The corporate sponsors were impressive as well. At the head of that list, as you would often see, was Peter Head and the Southern Cross Club, West's Rugby Union Club, Royals Rugby Union, Tuggeranong Vikings Rugby Union, Matt Power and his family at Melwood Furniture, Tooheys, Boral, Ron Molloy of South Corp Wines, Crowne Plaza, Canberra, Mark Casey Electrical, Trophy Link, Bovis Lend Lease, Unique Sports Memorabilia, Legends Memorabilia, Ryleho Moulding and Timber, Ainslie Football Club and Canberra Trophies.

There were a number of tables organised by the different clubs and there were also 75 items put up for auction, whether by public auction or silent auction. These were donated by a range of individuals and companies.

So there was a tremendous effort to remember a mate and look after his family. To my mind, that tremendous effort says that, if anyone ever doubts that Canberra has a heart or soul, or says charity is not alive and well in this city, they should hear about the Darcy Scollen benefit night, when 420 Canberrans came together and did an incredible thing. I think they all went home feeling very proud of themselves. As a city, we should be proud of them and the way that they have looked after one of our families.

Death of Mr David Smyth

MR HARGREAVES (9.14): Mr Speaker, I want to rise in this place to pay tribute to a friend of mine, David Smyth, who died tragically, recently. I am sure Mr Smyth would know David, and his wife Melissa-and they have a couple of kids. David died very tragically recently. That will be subject to other issues later down the track.

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