Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

I acknowledge the fine and eloquent words by the Prime Minister, the opposition leader, the defence minister and the Deputy Leader of the Labor Party about a truly remarkable man. His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was committed to a life of service, of service to others. He was undoubtedly Her Majesty's rock, so consistently was he with her, supporting and encouraging Her Majesty. However, recent statistics show that, since 1952, the Duke of Edinburgh had completed 22,219 solo engagements. That's truly amazing. Each and every engagement focused on reaching out to the peoples of the Commonwealth and, indeed, the world. These were not over five, 10 or even 20 years of service; this was a lifetime of service lived for others. Many people choose to retire in their 50s, their 60s or perhaps their early 70s. Prince Philip scaled back at age 96. Just imagine that.

For Australians, amongst his most enduring of legacies has been the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, as has been spoken of before. This youth development program empowers young Australians aged between 14 and 24 to explore their full potential, to be their best selves and to find their purpose, passion and place in the world, regardless of their location or circumstance. It is a fully inclusive program, with no social, political or religious affiliations. The award's national chair in Australia, Gary Nairn AO, said this:

We have lost a great man who, over more than 60 years, gave inspiration to young people to explore their potential and achieve success …

Prince Philip leaves behind a wonderful legacy that will continue to benefit youth across the world.

Indeed it will. This rings so true when we see the award's scope: since 1959, motivating 775,000 young Australians to set goals and challenge themselves as they build their lives. There are participants across the Riverina, my electorate, taking this opportunity with both hands right now, and, indeed, 60,000 volunteers are supporting 45,000 young Australians currently taking that very challenge.

Communities across Australia have responded with consistent enthusiasm to royal visits. Since Her Majesty's coronation, Wagga Wagga, in New South Wales, my home town, has hosted multiple visits. Indeed, I once complained when I was the editor of the Daily Advertiser at Wagga that we had actually had more royal visits than prime ministerial visits. Fortunately, we now get a few more visits from the Acting Prime Minister—but I digress. The Duke visited Wagga Wagga with Her Majesty in February 1954 and again in October 1973. In 1954, honouring their effort and reflecting the tremendous interest, tens of thousands of people turned out, despite the Wagga Wagga heat. It was reported that, of the 15,000 children gathered in the centre of Robertson Oval, 500 fainted in the heat and had to be stretchered off. Amongst the treasured memories of the 1973 visit are photographs of the Duke deep in conversation with Riverina College of Advanced Education students, many of them resplendent in their flared pants fashion of the day.

In 2000, as part of a three-day royal tour of New South Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh visited the Wagga Wagga campus of Charles Sturt University to see firsthand developments in the wine industry, the cheese making and the internationally acclaimed equine centre. Also that year, the Queen and Duke visited the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture right here in Canberra. This national centre had been recently announced as a joint initiative of CSU and the Anglican diocese of Canberra and Goulburn. As then Vice-Chancellor of CSU Professor Cliff Blake said: 'The university's inclusion in both the New South Wales and Canberra royal tours was indeed a high honour and significant recognition for CSU.'

The visit to the cheese factory on the uni campus back at Wagga Wagga brought one or two unexpected outcomes, creating headlines, indeed, that reached the United Kingdom. It came not long after intense press debate over headgear worn by Prince Charles on a tour of the Caribbean. The Duke's travelling party explained to the cheese factory team, 'He will be here for four minutes. He won't have time to put the hairnet and factory gear on.' The visit was a roaring success but left in its wake a batch of lemon myrtle herb cheese, valued at a couple of grand, with an uncertain future on the market. Someone said after the event, 'If it tests up safely, why don't we put it on the market as a Prince Philip special?'

A little more than three years ago, the Duke of Edinburgh celebrated 70 years of marriage with the Queen. Her Majesty is the only British monarch to have celebrated a platinum wedding anniversary. We are witnessing firsthand a most extraordinary period of service, highlighted by an extraordinary depth of personal commitment to the community, to the Commonwealth. Australians give deep thanks for the Duke of Edinburgh's lifetime of service and dedication. We extend our deepest sympathy to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family and to them we also say, simply, thank you.

Question agreed to, honourable members standing in their places.

Sitting suspended from 12:39 to 14:0 9

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