Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for Health) Share this | Hansard source

(   The passing of Les Murray provides a moment of great reflection for fans of Australian football. The players and the coaches, of course, are the front line, but the voice of football in Australia has been Les Murray.

We know his fabulous story. Born in Budapest, he immigrated to Australia in 1957. He played in the lower grades of football with St George-Budapest. But it was really off the pitch that he made his mark and was one of the great contributors to the expansion of football right throughout Australia. On any Saturday morning, young boys, like my own boy, James, who's eight years old, are playing out their dreams on a soccer pitch. They dream of and imagine playing football for Australia. Our family is no different—we have a young boy who loves it. It truly is an international game. I think Les Murray is one of those who have contributed to the rise of Australian football, which reached an apotheosis only in the last week, with the brilliant success of the Australian Matildas and the growth of Sam Kerr into one of the world's leading female players, if not the leading female player.

Les started his working life as a journalist in 1971. He moved into broadcasting, with a stint at Channel Ten in '77, before moving to SBS at the commencement of the 1980s, and that's where he lifted the game. He lifted football into the common understanding of people right across Australia. Along the way, he commentated on the football world cups and World Cup qualifiers between 1986 and 2014. He retired from commentating and broadcasting in 2014. The absence of what I wouldn't describe as his dulcet tones but more as his enthusiastic, energised tones has meant that perhaps something is a little bit missing from our commentary—without reflecting on any others involved. His was a unique voice, in a unique role, like Bill Collins in race calling, Lou Richards in AFL and so many others along the way.

For over 40 years, he was the face of football-calling. He spoke on international matches, he hosted On The Ball, Toyota World Sportandthe famous The World Game on SBS. And he had an impact. He was the person who spoke of the world game. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia along the way. He was a proud father to two daughters, to whom we give our condolences, along with all his other family members. Above all else, we recognise that, whilst our airwaves were the lesser for his retirement in 2014, our country is the lesser for his passing in 2017. But, along the way, he gave an enormous amount to the growth of football within Australia.

With the indulgence of the chamber, I will also take this opportunity, in my capacity as Minister for Sport, to express deep and profound regret at the passing of Betty Cuthbert. She was rightly called the 'Golden Girl' of Australian athletics, with the 1956 achievements in the 100 metres, the 200 metres and the 4 x 100 metres relay. The fact that she missed the 1960 Rome Olympic Games but came back to win the 400 metres in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games is just an incredible achievement. She won four Olympic medals, all of them gold. She's one of only five Australians to have won four or more gold medals, and one of only two women, along with Dawn Fraser, to have done so.

Of all of the different things about Betty Cuthbert, perhaps the most striking and the most notable was the sheer joy and enthusiasm she brought to her athletics. I think two of the great photos of Australian sport are, firstly, of Betty Cuthbert cresting the tape in the 1956 Games with pure heart and nerve and sinew on display, with the mouth open and just that extent of effort. Then, on Tuesday morning, The Australian ran a magnificent photo on its front page of a young woman putting on her spikes, in colour, the golden hair, and just joy—joy in participation in athletics. And we need more of that. She was the ultimate role model, on the athletics track and off the track: modest, humble, energised, enthusiastic, and then, of course, what she lived through with her multiple sclerosis showed immense grace. And so she was the embodiment of courage, of grace and of speed—and, oh, what speed! We will miss her.

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