Page 667 - Week 02 - Thursday, 20 February 2020

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Rod also was very actively involved in Karinya House, and it is fitting that his family asked for donations to Karinya in lieu of flowers at his funeral.

He was the devoted husband of Ruth for 61 years and the admired and much-loved father of Claire and Ray, Scot and Cheryl, Mark and Melissa, Sarah and Michael, and Anne, and also a proud grandfather to their children. He was the youngest sibling of a large family, and last to pass away. He was the brother of Esmerelda, Jean, Audrey, Russell, William, Leslie, Lorna and Nancye.

As an indication of how much Rod was valued in our community, there is no way that it could be better expressed than in the warm and heartfelt tribute paid to him by Karinya House:

We celebrate the generous life of a beautiful man.

Rod Frazer has been a stalwart of the Karinya family since before its establishment, initially through his longstanding and key role at the Canberra Southern Cross Club. Rod has been a very dear and long-term friend of our Executive Director, Marie-Louise, and Finance and Business Manager, Jo, often providing wise counsel, particularly whilst serving on the Karinya Committee from 2011 through to 2018. Even in recent times when Marie-Louise visited Rod, his care and wise counsel was evident, still enquiring as to what he could do to assist.

Rod’s keen sense of humour, dry and gentle wit, was welcome on many occasions, as he provided direction and advice. Always a Volunteer, providing back up Committee on call and respite support, along with daughter Claire, also a Karinya Volunteer. Rod’s life has been an exemplar of care and service and his family are testament to this.

We send our thoughts and love to Rod’s beautiful life-long partner, his wife Ruth [and their family]. Members of this beautiful family have often celebrated with the Karinya family at our annual Gala Dinner and they are like family to us.

It is always sad to lose a friend and a valued member of our community. But we have to celebrate their legacy and ensure that people like Rod Frazer’s legacy will be a very long one and live in our memory. I send my heartfelt, warmest best wishes and sincere condolences to all of Rod’s family.

Mental health—depression

MS CHEYNE (Ginninderra) (5.27): Some of you may recall a very sad speech I gave around this time last year. On 1 February, it marked one year since David Finney died. As I said at the time, Dave was proud of his military service and he also spoke honestly and candidly about the costs and sacrifices of serving. His medals were not free.

At the time I said that Dave’s story was not over, and that has proven absolutely to be true, not least through the work of his mother, Julie-Ann. Since David’s death, Julie-Ann has been campaigning tirelessly and fearlessly for a royal commission into veteran suicide. I have been very pleased to continue to be in contact with Julie-Ann


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