Pat Conroy (Shortland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

John Cootes is an Australian legend, and his legendary status was recognised on Australia Day when he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia. Many people know John as a champion rugby league player; in fact, he was the last country player to be directly selected in the New South Wales Origin team and the Kangaroos, and, dare I say, the last Catholic priest to be selected for the Kangaroos. He represented Australia in the late sixties and the seventies, and he was the Rugby League World Cup's top try-scorer in 1970. Others will know him as the head of the hugely successful John Cootes furniture store chain and for his high-profile media career in the 1970s and 1980s.

However, John's medal is for outstanding services to the community, particularly with the St Vincent de Paul Society and the Speers Point Amateur Sailing Club. These two volunteer groups are wonderful examples of the tremendous contribution that volunteers make in our community, and I take this opportunity to pay tribute to them as well. As an aside I've had the privilege of witnessing John's prowess on the keyboard, singing both country and western at the Speers Point Amateur Sailing Club presentation nights.

John, on behalf of the people of Shortland, who I have the great privilege of representing in parliament, I thank you and pay tribute to you for all your service-giving over many decades—and thank you again to St Vincent de Paul for being so strong in their support of both John and our broader community.