Julie Owens (Parramatta, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There are only five Australians who have ever represented their country at the highest level in three sports. One of them is Dick Thornett, a genuine local sporting hero who died yesterday at the age of 71. He was the youngest of three brothers in one of Australia's greatest sporting families and he was a truly inspirational sporting star. In the 1960 Olympics he represented Australia in water polo before becoming a Wallaby in 1961, joining his brother John, representing his country once again in the tour of South Africa.

A few years later he joined his other brother Ken at the Parramatta Eels. He played there until 1971, making 168 appearances for the club. A vigorous second-row forward, he toured with his brother Ken on the Ashes-winning 1963-64 Kangaroo tour. He played in all three of the future tests against Great Britain. He went on to earn a test cap against France in 1964 and Great Britain in 1966, as well as featuring in Australia's 1968 World Cup win. He was a genuine, masterful sportsman and he leaves an extraordinary legacy for many generations of Parramatta fans. His contribution may well never be fully comprehended. I send my condolences to his family and friends and his many, many fans.