Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I stand today to pay tribute to Alby Schultz, my predecessor in the seat of Hume. I acknowledge Alby's wife Gloria, his sons Grant and Dean and other family members here in the gallery. These are precious times for the Schultz family. As we all know, Alby commanded enormous respect in this chamber. It is a privilege to say a few words, with his family here, on behalf of the people of Hume.

Alby meant so many things to so many different people. I first met him here in Parliament House, and from the start I knew exactly where I stood. There was no ambiguity with Alby. He asked for loyalty and he gave it as well. One of his former state colleagues recently said, 'When you had Alby on your side, you had his whole heart. Half measures weren't possible.' To me, that pretty much sums him up.

Alby's courage was legendary. He saw off his eye accident with stoicism; he stood up relentlessly for issues that he believed in, despite great resistance. He fought his cancer with courage. He was brave all the way. And bravery is one of the finest attributes we can have as a representative of others and in life.

Following, as I do, in his footsteps, I have heard so many stories about Alby helping people. From his earliest days in public life he loved to help people in need. I can't go into a town or village in my electorate—without hearing a story about what he did for someone. And that was before we lost him. The tributes and emails are rolling in. Whether it was lobbying to list a new drug, being a pioneer for breast cancer research and the mobile mammogram service or personally distributing drought relief parcels to local farmers, Alby was there and, I might add, so was Gloria.

With that big, big heart Alby loved people. He loved his town of Cootamundra, he loved his constituents—or, at least, most of them. He loved his boys, Grant and Dean, and his daughters-in-law, Bec and Dev, and he adored each and every one of his grandchildren. More than anything, he loved Glo. They were a team, and we all benefited from that team—friends, family and the community.

On behalf of the people of Hume, I say to Glo, to Grant and Dean and your families, we are all the better for knowing Alby. He was courageous, he was caring and he was so widely loved. It is humbling to walk in his shoes.

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