Ursula Stephens (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I seek leave to incorporate the remarks that I wanted to make in this valedictory debate.

Leave granted.

The document read as follows

Farewell to Harry Evans as he leaves his life’s work in the Upper House of the Australian Parliament

With apologies to Stewart Hamblen and Shakin Stevens (no relation!!)

This ole House means a lot to Harry

(And his children and his wife)

This ole House was home away from home

For the best part of his life.

Now his time has come to leave it

And the Senate’s filled with dread:

Who to ask when a tricky question

Raises up its pesky head?

CHORUS:

Ain’t a-gonna have access to Harry

Ain’t a-gonna see him any more.

Who’s gonna tell us how to draft a bill

And if it’s time to cross the floor.

We’re gonna miss his stylish presence

And his lucid writing style

But we wish him health and happiness

As he leaves us with a smile.

..

He’s the guru of procedure

He knows Odgers inside out.

How we’d question him and quiz him

When legislation was about!

He’d work late nights till exhausted,

Wisdom flowing from his pen,

Grab a bite of to eat (defrosted)

And then hit those books again.

CHORUS:

Ain’t a-gonna have access to Harry

Ain’t a-gonna see him any more.

Who’s gonna tell us how to draft a bill

And if it’s time to cross the floor.

We’re gonna miss his stylish presence

And his lucid writing style

But we wish him health and happiness

As he leaves us with a smile.

..

Sure, this ole House will keep on truckin’

Even after Harry leaves

But it’s fair for say that some of us

might sob, or howl, or grieve.

But his Senate days are over

Ain’t gonna be the Clerk no more.

He’s gonna pack his trusty briefcase

And saunter out that door.

CHORUS:

Ain’t a-gonna have access to Harry

Ain’t a-gonna see him any more.

Who’s gonna tell us how to draft a bill

And if it’s time to cross the floor.

We’re gonna miss his stylish presence

And his lucid writing style

But we wish him health and happiness

As he leaves us with a smile.

..

Harry isn’t gettin’ shaky;

Harry isn’t gettin’ old.

He just wants to spread his wings a bit

Before he gets too cold.

He’s still full of curiosity

And he feels no fear nor pain.

He’s settin’ out to write a novel

And our loss is history’sgain.

CHORUS:

Ain’t a-gonna have access to Harry

Ain’t a-gonna see him any more.

Who’s gonna tell us how to draft a bill

And if it’s time to cross the floor.

We’re gonna miss his stylish presence

And his lucid writing style

But we wish him health and happiness

As he leaves us with a smile.